Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post, Padang
The day was bright but only half of the 90 elementary school students in Batipuh district in quake-hit West Sumatra's Tanah Datar regency showed up at school.
The students at SDN 17 Batipuh elementary school have not been able to study in their classrooms since the province was hit by the massive quake on March 19.
The school's religious teacher, Elizar, ushered 49 first to sixth graders to a makeshift tent provided by the Social Services Office. She did not teach her subject, but instead discussed the earthquake with them before giving some spiritual advice.
""Every disaster, including quake, was created by Allah so we have to be patient and pray that we're not given a bigger ordeal. We should continue study,"" she said.
The students were laughing and playing but no one dared to get close to their heavily damaged school. The school is located on higher ground and the students have to climb 150 cement steps, which are now cracked, to reach the building.
Sixth-grader Muhammad Fadil said he came to school because he was missing his friends. When the quake struck, he and other students rushed home and found their houses damaged.
""Since the quake, I have nothing to do. I can't live in our damaged home. My family and I live in a makeshift tent near our home. By going to school, I can meet my friends and teachers,"" he said.
Part of the school has collapsed ground, while the remaining building is damaged.
Elizar said the school had been renovated in 2004 after it collapsed during the 2004 quake. ""Maybe it's better to move the school to safer location,"" she said.
First grade teacher Nurlaili said she was traumatized by the quake. ""It's not only the students who feel traumatized but also the teachers. I can't stand looking at the school and some students feel the same. Besides, the school's location is not safe, it's better to move it,"" she said.
The learning process resumed last Tuesday, in a tent separated into three spaces by wooden boards. There are two shifts for classes.
Nurlaili said she did not know how long the students would have to study in the tent as there had been no promises from Tanah Datar regency to help rebuild the school.
One kilometer away, SDN 09 Gunung Rajo school was flattened to the ground by the quake.
According to Batipu district data, 36 schools, from elementary to high schools, were heavily damaged and 13 others were mildly damaged.
When the quake struck, most schools were busy. In the district, two students from Islamic high school MTsN Subang died and 12 others were injured.
""When the quake struck, the students ran away to the field outside but the hill near the road was shaking, like it would collapse, so the students were running back to the school,"" Yefri Fiza, MTsN deputy principal, told The Jakarta Post.
The school, which is also on high ground, was still standing but heavily damaged, so the students are also studying in a tent in a field nearby.
""The students and teachers are still afraid to go to school, especially as the school is standing on a dangerous location and if another quake strikes, we might not be able to run again,"" Yefri said.
