Samarinda, East Kalimantan – Though East Kalimantan is rich in natural resources, many of the schools in the province have fallen into disrepair from neglect.

A top official at the East Kalimantan Education Office, Syafrudin Pernyata, said on Wednesday there were 628 elementary schools in desperate need of reconstruction, or about 30 percent of the 2,094 elementary schools in the province.

Syafrudin said the government must act quick to repair the buildings before students were hurt or killed in a building collapse.