WB aid to fix Bengkulu schools

WB aid to fix Bengkulu schools

BENGKULU, Bengkulu: The World Bank is providing Rp 5.5 billion (about US$639,000) in aid to rebuild 15 elementary schools that were damaged in a major earthquake two years ago, an official said on Friday.

Bengkulu education office head Djamaris Waris said the schools would receive Rp 300 million each, or a total of Rp 4.5 billion. He did not say where the remaining aid would go to.

An earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale rocked the province in June 2002, killing at least 58 people and leaving hundreds injured. The quake flattened several buildings in the provincial capital Bengkulu.

Djamaris said the regional budget allotted Rp 2.3 billion this year to repair another 41 elementary schools that were lightly damaged by the quake.

The use of the funds and the World Bank aid, he said, would be decided by each of the schools' committees. The school committees consist of parents, teachers and community representatives. -- Antara