Lapindo Victims Portal

The condition of Madrasah Ibtidaiyyah - MI (primary school), Madrasah Tsanawiyah - MTs (Junior High School) and Madrasah Aliyah - MA (Senior High School) of Khalid bin Walid, Renokenongo have worsened due to the mudflow disaster. The buildings are cracking because the ground they stand upon is sinking, and is now flooded by water mixed with the mud.

On Tuesday (21/10), water blocked entry to the three schools, meaning hundreds of school students couldn't enter their classrooms. They gathered around a nearby warung (small deli).

"We don't shut down the schools. We just ask the student to study at their own home for the next two days," says Sri Retno, Headmaster of MTs Khalid bin Walid.

When the embankment of the mudflow broke down last August, andwas  intentionally left abandoned by the authorities, the Renokenongo village gradually become a lake of mud. The Khalid bin Walid schools are the only buildings still standing.

Beside these schools that belong to Nahdlatul Ulama (largest Muslim organization in Indonesia), the other schools in the Renokenongo village have been relocated, which are Dharma Wanita Kindergarten, Renokenongo I and II Primary School, and Porong II Junior High School.

"All of those schools have been relocated after the gas pipe blast (November, 2006 which killed 13 people). Khalid bin Walid is the only that still operates," explains Lilik Kaminah, one of Renokenongo residents that sought refuge in Pasar Baru Porong (also a teacher at Muhajirin Kindergarten).

According to Ali Mas'ad, headmaster of MA Khalid bin Walid, this is not the first flood experienced by the schools. The schools have been flooded twice beforehand, first on August 2006, and November 2006 after the gas pipe blast. Despite the difficulties and dangers, the schools still manage to operate.

These schools (MI, MTs, and MA) became the alternative for underprivileged villagers from nearby villages (most of them are Lapindo victims), because the schools doesn't charge admission fees for the victims.

I ask whether the funding was from Lapindo? Straightforwardly Mas'ad replied no. The company never provided funds to the schools. The only money Lapindo ever gave was Rp 2,4 mill for moving costs needed to save the furniture and other facilities after the gas pipe blast.

"The funding comes from Agniya (wealthy people) who donate and support these schools," says Mas'ad.

The current flooding actually started early last fasting month (September). They still have managed to prevent the water and mud from entering the schools compound. Though learning is slightly disrupted, alongside ever growing concerns of building collapse, the learning process continues.

"We forcefully take a fasting month break earlier because of the mudflow," says one of the teachers.

If yesterday's water still flows and cannot be managed or channeled elsewhere, there's seem to be no hope for the schools to stay standing.

Since last Friday, authorities have started to build a dam surrounding the Renokenongo village. The damming was protested by villagers, since about 171 families still dwell in the area because they still haven't receive payment from the company. Haji Danu and one of his sons, Anang, Renokenongo residents, was arrested during the protest, and remain imprisioned, athough their charge is not clear.

According to Mas'ad, MA Khalid bin Walid is entering the mid semester test period, which regretfully has had to be postponed due to the flooding. "Next Friday we'll ask the students to resume, and for the times being we'll use the nearby mosque to conduct the test," explains Mas'ad.

Sri Retno plans to relocate the school to nearby village (eastward of Renokenongo village), considering that most students that attend the schools are coming from the area.

The plans aren't clear because despite the hardship they have to experienced, they still have to deal with difficult licensing process all over again.

"We are still dealing with the licensing," says Retno.[mam]

 

 

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