99 Disaster-Affected Schools in Sumatra Holding Classes in Tents
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti has stated that 99 schools are currently conducting lessons in tents after being affected by disasters in Sumatra. The figure encompasses schools across three regions struck by floods and landslides in late November 2025: Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra.
"We wish to report that schools learning in tents or emergency classrooms currently number 99. Some have already returned to their original premises as the clean-up process has been completed," Mu'ti said during a meeting on Sumatra disaster response at the House of Representatives complex on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.
Of the 99 emergency classrooms, 52 have been established in Aceh, 21 in West Sumatra and 26 in North Sumatra. Mu'ti also noted that 22 schools in Aceh and West Sumatra are still sharing facilities with other educational institutions.
"Schools currently sharing premises number 22, specifically those whose buildings were swept away and require relocation," he said.
Mu'ti affirmed that all learning activities across the three provinces have been running for three months since the disaster. However, he acknowledged that the learning process has not yet been conducted under ideal conditions. Examples include the use of classrooms on a split morning-afternoon session basis and the lack of desks, forcing pupils to study on the floor.
Mu'ti also revealed that schools in disaster-affected areas are using an emergency curriculum.
Mu'ti explained that the total number of schools affected in Aceh reached 3,073 educational units, of which 3,001 have resumed learning at their original sites. In West Sumatra, 626 of 649 affected schools have returned to operation, whilst 1,104 of 1,180 schools in North Sumatra are back in use.
"We wish to report that schools learning in tents or emergency classrooms currently number 99. Some have already returned to their original premises as the clean-up process has been completed," Mu'ti said during a meeting on Sumatra disaster response at the House of Representatives complex on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.
Of the 99 emergency classrooms, 52 have been established in Aceh, 21 in West Sumatra and 26 in North Sumatra. Mu'ti also noted that 22 schools in Aceh and West Sumatra are still sharing facilities with other educational institutions.
"Schools currently sharing premises number 22, specifically those whose buildings were swept away and require relocation," he said.
Mu'ti affirmed that all learning activities across the three provinces have been running for three months since the disaster. However, he acknowledged that the learning process has not yet been conducted under ideal conditions. Examples include the use of classrooms on a split morning-afternoon session basis and the lack of desks, forcing pupils to study on the floor.
Mu'ti also revealed that schools in disaster-affected areas are using an emergency curriculum.
Mu'ti explained that the total number of schools affected in Aceh reached 3,073 educational units, of which 3,001 have resumed learning at their original sites. In West Sumatra, 626 of 649 affected schools have returned to operation, whilst 1,104 of 1,180 schools in North Sumatra are back in use.