Oil firm rebuilds school in remote area

Nurni Sulaiman ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Kutai Kartanegara   |  Thu, 07/03/2008 10:38 AM  |  The Archipelago

HITCHING A RIDE: Students of SDN 1 elementary school, in remote Saliki village in Kutai Kartanegara regency, East Kalimantan, climb aboard a palm oil company truck, which takes them to school. The long distances mean pupils have to stay at home when it rains. (JP/Nurni S)

Pupils ran and played happily around their new school building at SDN 1 elementary school, which is located in remote Saliki village in Kutai Kartanegara regency, East Kalimantan.

To arrive at the school, one must turn off the paved road and travel along a 20-kilometer dirt road, which takes about 30 to 40 minutes by car. If it rains, only four-wheel-drive vehicles can traverse the road to reach the village.

The school is located around 100 kilometers from Tenggarong, Kutai Kartanegara's capital.

Most of the 232 registered students stay at home when it rains due to the long distances they have to travel and the lack of transportation. They usually get to school by hitching a ride on palm oil company trucks.

"I always go to school by hitching a ride on a truck. My family as well as the others are poor. Most of us stay home and cannot go to school when it rains," said sixth grader Sandy.

The school, which was formerly built of wood, has just been rebuilt by oil and gas company PT Apexindo Pratama Duta.

"It was far from appropriate for students as well as teachers before. Thanks to the company, our spirits have been uplifted by the new building," school principal Ari Wiyono told The Jakarta Post recently.

Construction work on the school was completed in February and it was officially handed over to the local administration by the company's president, Hetriono Kartowisastro, on June 12.

"The construction of SDN 1 Saliki is part of Apexindo's corporate social responsibility program which is expected to contribute to the improvement of education for a wider community," Hetriono said.

"With proper facilities in place, we expect students' enthusiasm to study and learn to increase. We hope SDN 1 Saliki will be able to produce skilled manpower in the future," he said.

Kutai Kartanegara regency administration assistant Edi Damansyah talked about the benefits the building would bring in his inaugural speech.

"Apexindo is one of the companies operating in Kutai Kartanegara. We welcome any positive cooperation with the business community and hope that the firm's initiative could encourage others to do the same," Damansyah said.

Apexindo spent about Rp 670 million (approximately US$74,400) to rebuild the school. Students have been able to learn in a much better atmosphere since last February.

The school building consists of seven classrooms, a teachers' room and four bathrooms. The company has also equipped the school with learning equipment and desks and chairs for students.

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