Students fight smell from waste

Wed, March 7, 2018 / 09:49 am

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Muhammadiyah elementary school students wear surgical masks in class due to the strong smell from a nearby factory’s chemical waste. JP/Maksum Nur Fauzan
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The students even wear surgical masks during school breaks. JP/Maksum Nur Fauzan
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Three female students wear surgical masks while studying. JP/Maksum Nur Fauzan
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A boy’s smile is hidden behind his surgical mask. JP/Maksum Nur Fauzan
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A student walks to class. JP/Maksum Nur Fauzan
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Female students attend physical education class while still wearing their surgical masks. JP/Maksum Nur Fauzan
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Teachers and students all wear surgical masks during the hoisting of the flag. JP/Maksum Nur Fauzan
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Surgical masks for students and teachers are provided by the school. JP/Maksum Nur Fauzan
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Students gather in the schoolyard to join in the flag hoisting ceremony. JP/Maksum Nur Fauzan
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Two girls take off their surgical masks during a school break. JP/Maksum Nur Fauzan
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A boy covers his nose while his friend wears a surgical mask so they can focus on studying.JP/Maksum Nur Fauzan
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A boy looks outside the class window while wearing his surgical mask. JP/Maksum Nur Fauzan

Maksum Nur Fauzan

The air in Tawang Krajan village in Kedongwinong subdistrict, Nguter district, Sukoharjo regency, Central Java, has been highly polluted since last October. Villagers said the pollution was caused by a rayon factory in the area. They blamed chemical waste from the factory as the cause of the strong odor that has disrupted the villagers’ daily activities, including for students of Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (Islamic elementary school) Muhammadiyah.

Children have to wear surgical masks the whole day while studying to bear the strong odor from the waste.

The school hopes that the factory’s management will take more serious actions in treating the chemical waste so the smell does not disturb villagers living near the factory, as well as not to disrupt the academic activities at the school. [yan]