In Earthquake's Aftermath, USAID Helps Keep Classes in Session
More than 400 students from two elementary schools in Klaten will finish their studies on time this year in spite of the complete destruction of their schools in the May 27th earthquake. USAID staff from the Decentralized Basic Education (DBE) program used their resourcefulness to secure donated tents large enough to conduct classes for the students at Sumopuro and Tangkisanpos Elementary Schools in Klaten. The tents enabled six grade students in both schools to complete their national examinations, which are required to advance to the next grade.
One of the students at Sumopuro Elementary School, Joan, admitted that while the tents were not as nice as her former classroom, she was glad to be able to continue studying her favorite subject, Bahasa Indonesia. Joan hopes to become an airline stewardess so she can travel around the world, including to the United States.
Most of the students at the two elementary schools were sleeping when the earthquake struck early on a Saturday morning and many lost family members and friends. At Tangkisanpos Elementary School, one student and the Headmaster were killed in the earthquake. Most of the teachers at both schools lost their homes and are living in temporary quarters or in tents on their own property. But as a sign of the resiliency of the teachers of Klaten, they continue to show up for work each day as their personal contribution to the reconstruction of their town.
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