Pupils study in basements after school is demolished

Andi Hajramurni ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Takalar   |  Thu, 09/11/2008 11:06 AM  |  The Archipelago

More than 30 elementary school students in Bonto Kassi village in Takalar regency, South Sulawesi, were forced to study in makeshift classrooms after their school was demolished to make way for the district administrative office.

The students, from SD 116 public elementary school, attended classes under the houses of a volunteer teacher and school committee, visited by The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Teachers raised curtains around the makeshift classroom to ensure students were not distracted by their surroundings. Nevertheless, they could not be separated from their environment, as evidenced by the number of chickens roaming among the pupils.

Sixth grader Irmawati said she did not like studying under the house as she found it too open and distracting.

"I cannot concentrate on my lessons because I can hear the cars go by. I want to return to my old school," she said.

Fifth grader Suardi expressed a similar sentiment and said he hoped the government would renovate the school or build a new one so he could study in peace.

According to school principal Nurhaedah, students were forced to study in the makeshift classrooms because the local administration had not provided an alternative location after demolishing the school on Sept. 8 without advance notice.

"We were completely unaware the school would be demolished. During lessons on Monday, the contractor came and said he would tear down the building and we should immediately vacate it.

"We were practically kicked out. Luckily a volunteer teacher and the school committee head were willing to lend us their homes," Nurhaedah said.

She said the education office should have notified them of the demolition and relocated them beforehand.

"We don't know where we will be relocated to and what our status is now," she said.

The school building, made up of three classrooms, was renovated in 2006 and funded by the Takalar regency administration. The school originally consisted of two buildings with seven classrooms. Since September last year, two rooms have been used by the South Galesong district administration, which no longer held an office after separating and becoming an autonomous district.

South Galesong district chief Syahriar recently submitted a request to the Takalar regency administration to turn the school into the new district office given its convenient location and the dwindling number of students at the school.

District education office data show only 30 students are enrolled, but the school claims the number is around 100.

"Some of the students are refusing to attend school because they have to study under unfavorable conditions, while others prefer to move to other schools," Nurhaedah said.

Bonto Kassi village chief Tamrin Gading said his office had not been notified of the demolition beforehand, although as a village chief he should have been informed of the planned construction in his jurisdiction. He said he would seek a solution so the children would not have to study in such conditions.

Parents also lamented the demolition of the school and the lack of options for the students and teachers.

"They can demolish it if they want, but they shouldn't neglect our children. The government should have provided a replacement before tearing down the school," said Endang, the mother of first grader Heriawan.

District chief Syahriar said the issue had been discussed and that school authorities should have anticipated the matter.

"The school should have been prepared to move, especially when the building materials arrived," he said.

He acknowledged he had not received a letter setting out the decision to demolish the school but could not stop the contractor from tearing it down because he was equipped with a work order.

South Galesong education office head Syamsuddin said the teachers and students would be put up at the Balang and Kadatong state elementary schools, located about 1 kilometer away.

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