School Tent Collapses While Studying In The 6.1 M Earthquake In West Pasaman

WEST SUMATRA - The school building that collapsed due to the earthquake in West Pasaman did not dampen the enthusiasm of students in teaching and learning activities entering the month of Ramadan 1443 Hijrah. Even in the makeshift tent, the students looked enthusiastic.

"Today, during Ramadan, we started the teaching and learning process in emergency tents because the school building was damaged by the 6.1 magnitude earthquake on Friday, February 25", said the Principal of State Elementary School 21 Pasaman, Dafri, in Simpang Empat, the capital of West Pasaman Regency, West Sumatra, Thursday, April 7.

He said the makeshift tent was set up on the school grounds that were damaged by the earthquake. Even in the emergency tent, the elementary school students' enthusiasm was quite high.

"The post-earthquake student attendance rate reached 95 percent of the 187 students. Hopefully, the students' enthusiasm will increase", he hoped.

According to him, for this Ramadan, students enter the school from 08.00 WIB to 09.30 WIB with face-to-face learning materials as usual and at 09.30 WIB to 12.00 WIB followed by a Ramadan Islamic boarding school.

"Ramadan Islamic boarding schools are specifically for students in grades three to six. For grades one and two students go home at 09.30 WIB", said Dafri.

Meanwhile, SDN 08 Talamau School has also started the teaching and learning process this Thursday.

According to the Principal of SDN 08 Talamau School, Wartila Hendri, students attend school face-to-face from 08.00 WIB to 09.30 WIB. After that, it was continued with the Ramadan Islamic boarding school until 12.00 WIB.

"In the Ramadan Islamic boarding school, it is taught to read verses from the Koran, pray Duha in the congregation, memorize verses and other worship", he said.

His party continues to try to relieve the trauma of children from the earthquake. Apart from face-to-face lessons, there are also Ramadhan boarding schools and other activities.

Temporary data on April 4, 2022, from the Disaster Management Task Force, the earthquake that hit West Pasaman resulted in damage to 4,716 residential units with 2,206 light damage, 1,089 moderate damage, and 1,418 heavy damage.

Educational facilities 131 units with moderate damage 97, slightly damaged 17, and heavily damaged 17 units. 17 health facilities with moderate damage 8 units, moderate damage 4 units, and severely damaged 5 units.

Damage to worship facilities was 50 units with 19 moderate damage, 9 moderate damage, and 22 units heavily damaged. Infrastructure 35 with minor damage 5, 8 moderately damaged, and 22 heavily damaged, and 64 government facilities damaged with 48 lightly damaged, 14 moderately damaged, and 2 heavily damaged.