School is normally canceled when floods strike in Jakarta but teachers from elementary schools across the city have met to discuss ways to keep the education process flowing during these disasters.

“We want to find ways for children to engage with their experiences of floods and gain something educational from them,” said Henny Supolo Sitepu, event coordinator from the Teacher’s Light Foundation at the Teachers and Flood Seminar last week.

Around 200 teachers from 100 elementary schools in Jakarta attended the seminar. Seated on the floor, they shared their experiences in dealing with floods.

Esron Marbun, a teacher from SDN Bidara Cina 2, East Jakarta, said the school was used as a shelter for victims during floods, and classes could not continue.

Elis Diawariyanti, a teacher from SDN Kapuk Muara 06, North Jakarta, said most of the elementary schools and settlements in the Kapuk Muara subdistrict were prone to floods. Teachers usually send students home if the school is flooded and offer assistance to those who homes are inundated with water.

"We permit students to attend school during these times if they don't bring books or can not wear the uniform or shoes," she said.

In the seminar, teachers took the opportunity to explore ways to continue education during flood periods.

"We sometimes give assignment task or condense lessons to make up for lost study time," Esron said.

Abdul Rojak, a teacher from SDN Kapuk Muara 15, North Jakarta, said some students could not complete the work because their books were destroyed and they were living in shelters.

"We couldn't ask them to do homework because they were already having a hard time dealing with the floods. Instead we simply want students to tell the class about their experiences and observations of the floods," he said.

Abdul is teaching his 5th and 6th grade students how to build a simple raft made of banana trees and drums in preparation of the floods.

"The raft project involves math and science skills, they will come in use when floods begin and the kids have fun in the process."

Dwi Agustin from SDN Kapuk Muara 14 said emergency classes, held in high and safe locations out of the floods, should be held to ensure education continues during disasters.

"The emergency classes should provide leniency to students who have lost their books, uniforms, shoes and writing utensils. Teachers should motivate students to keep studying," she said

Abdul said the construction of apartments in the Kapuk area increased the likelihood and impact of floods in the entire region.

Based on data gathered by the city education agency, 361 elementary schools, 54 secondary schools and one kindergarten were submerged during floods last year. The number is expected to rise during this coming wet season.

The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency says heavy rain will begin in December and peak in January and February next year. (fmb)

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