South Tangerang to Reevaluate Field Trips after Bus Crash Killed Lingga Kencana Students

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Following a deadly accident that killed 11 people, most of whom were students at Depok's Lingga Kencana Vocational School, the South Tangerang City Education and Culture Department conducted an evaluation. They have also sent circulars to schools reminding them to consider carefully before deciding to send students on field trips out of town.

These considerations include the benefits that students receive and the financial costs borne by the student's parents.

"I have asked all schools to conduct an evaluation," said Deden Deni, head of the South Tangerang City Education and Culture Service, on Tuesday.

According to Deden, students do not necessarily need to go out of town for field trips, which are often held around graduation time. He urged the school to prioritize safety over profits from the study tour.

Deden said that if it is considered important for students to go out of town to gain knowledge, schools should research the standards of car rental companies. The most important thing, he said, is that the vehicle passes inspection and is deemed roadworthy. 

"The driver and the vehicle need to be certified as roadworthy for the safety of all passengers. We will do a total evaluation to prevent undesirable things from happening. It's better to have just had the activities done around schools," says Deden.

On Saturday evening last week, a bus carrying students and teachers crashed in Subang, West Java. The bus was returning to Depok from a resort area in Bandung for a graduation celebration.

Eleven people were killed in the accident, including students, a teacher, and a motorcyclist. Dozens of others were injured and hospitalized, some in critical condition.

Muhammad Iqbal

Editor's Choice: Subang Bus Accident, Ministry: Don't Be Tempted by Cheap Bus Fares

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