School Building Has Been Stalled Since 2017, Students In Pandeglang Learn While Wet And Burst

PANDEGLANG - Dozens of students of SD Negeri 1 Curug, Cibaliung District, Pandeglang Regency, Banten, were forced to undergo teaching and learning activities in classrooms that had not been completed since 2017.

The classroom is covered in soil, without plaster on the walls, and almost without proper facilities. When the rainy season arrives, water seeps into the classroom, making the floor muddy. On the other hand, when it is dry, dust becomes the main disruptor.

Many students feel inferior and reluctant to go to class because they are embarrassed. Some even did not want to enter at first," said Iwan Mulyawan, one of the teachers at SDN 1 Curug, Antara, Thursday, August 7.

To overcome this condition, the school adopted a special policy that allowed students to wear sandals during the rainy season. Apart from the muddy floor, many students also come from farmers' families who have difficulty buying shoes.

"Most of parents work as farmers. There are also students who don't have shoes, so just wear sandals," said Iwan.

Iwan explained that the construction of a new school building had actually been carried out, but only 60 percent had been completed. The project was then stopped, one of which was due to extreme road access. The distance to the nearest material store reaches 8 to 10 kilometers, and the condition of the rocky and slippery road complicates the distribution of building materials.

The condition of this road also has an impact on the activities of students and teachers. Every day they have to pass a steep road to go to school. Even during heavy rains, several students who live across the Walungan Curug River cannot come because they are worried about flooding.

"Currently, 42 students in grades 3 and 5 occupy the two unfinished classrooms. We can only do our best," said Iwan.

Complaints about the condition of the study room not only came from students, but also from parents of students. Many of them questioned why their children had to study indoors that was not suitable for use.

"Parents protest why their child is placed in such a room. We really hope that the government can immediately continue the construction of this school, so that students can study comfortably and have confidence," said Iwan.