Jakarta school renovations win praise, but funding leaves others waiting

Public schools in Jakarta have received accolades for their recent renovations, but the city's limited finances are hampering efforts to tackle the extensive list of aging school buildings, leading the administration to explore other funding avenues. One such renovated school is SDN Cilandak Barat 08 in South Jakarta, a state elementary institution that has undergone a significant transformation since its construction in the 1970s.

The school now boasts multiple floors, elevators, modern classrooms, and a new soccer field in its courtyard.

A parent whose first-grade child started at the school this year after the renovation completed, Ica, expressed her delight at the changes. She recalled passing the old building daily on her commute and found the transformation compelling enough to enroll her child there. Her nephew, a university student who used to attend the school, recounted that the school once accommodated twice as many students as its classrooms could, resulting in two shifts - morning and afternoon. The school is now operating on a single morning schedule, a welcome change, according to Ica.

The parent emphasized the importance of morning schedules for children, stating that they are more alert and energetic in the morning. Furthermore, most parents have morning work commitments, making single-session schools more convenient for families. Despite the positive impact of the renovation, the administration's limited funding resources are restricting their ability to address the broader backlog of aging school buildings, prompting them to seek alternative funding sources.