1,908 Sumatran Schools Still Unrenovated After Disasters

JAKARTA - A total of 1,908 schools in Sumatra remain unrenovated following disasters, despite the government having initiated rehabilitation programmes for thousands of other affected schools.

Home Affairs Minister and Chair of the Sumatra Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Acceleration Task Force (Satgas), Tito Karnavian, stated that a total of 4,992 schools were affected by disasters in Sumatra. “Correct, 4,992 schools were affected. The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) has signed cooperation agreements for the renovation and rehabilitation of approximately 3,084 schools,” Tito said during a press conference at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday (25/5/2026).

However, Tito stressed that the remaining schools will still be handled by the government through further cooperation with Kemendikdasmen. “There are still around a thousand or so remaining. Those are not being ignored. Kemendikdasmen will enter into further cooperation for their construction plans,” he said.

Tito explained that Kemendikdasmen has so far allocated nearly Rp 2 trillion for the renovation and rehabilitation of disaster-affected schools. “The Kemendikdasmen has already disbursed nearly Rp 2 trillion. A further Rp 1.8 to 1.9 trillion remains,” Tito said.

According to him, additional budget for continuing school renovations will be allocated after approval from the House of Representatives and the government. “With approval from the House of Representatives and the government, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa will be able to allocate the funds, including for the remaining thousand or so schools,” he said.