School Building Is Heavily Damaged, Elementary School Students In West Pasaman Study Under Tarpaulin Tents

Students of SDN 20 Talamau, West Pasaman Regency, West Sumatra (Photo via ANTARA)

PASAMAN - Students of State Elementary School 20 Rantau Pauh Talamau, West Pasaman Regency, West Sumatra, study under a makeshift tarpaulin tent because the classroom was heavily damaged by the earthquake on Friday, February 25.

"This is the current state of teaching and learning under tarps tied with ropes and bamboo poles erected in the school yard," said the Principal of SDN 20 Talamau Neli Suswati at Simpang Empat, Antara, Tuesday, March 15.

On the first day of school after the earthquake or last Monday, the children at the school studied without tents and tarpaulins. Tables and chairs were brought under tarpaulin tents so that the children could study with minimal facilities.

According to him, after studying without a tent on the first day, his party asked the head of the jorong and the wali nagari or village head to provide tents so that the children studied were protected from the hot sun.

"Today the tarpaulin tent has been set up and the children can learn under the makeshift tarpaulin," he said.

He hopes that related parties can provide tents that are suitable for use with walls for children to learn to avoid the heat and rain.

"With a total of 131 students, currently we cannot carry out the teaching and learning process in six classrooms because they have been damaged by the earthquake. If it rains we don't know where else to study," he said.

Regarding student attendance, he said, of the 131 people, 90 percent attended. The rest still haven't arrived because they are still traumatized by the aftershocks.

"Currently, the teaching and learning process has only started in two days. The exams have not yet started," said Neli Suswati.

One of the 2nd grade students, Fatimah, felt grateful to have started teaching and learning even with a makeshift tent. "I am very happy, sir, to be back studying under this tent," he said.

The 6th grader Rama said the same thing. According to him, although he is still afraid of the earthquake, he can go back to studying with his friends.

"I was hit by the wreckage of the school attic plywood. But it's okay, sir," he said.

Meanwhile, the Acting Head of the West Pasaman Education and Culture Office, Agusli, will continue to provide infrastructure to support the teaching and learning process in schools affected by the earthquake.

"We will soon complete the tents. Currently, there are some schools that have used tents and some have not, because the teaching and learning process has only started in two days," he said.

A total of 26 elementary and 5 junior high schools started the teaching and learning process since Monday, March 14. For schools that were heavily damaged and are being provided with emergency tents, said Agusli.