Advancing Education in West Nias Requires Collaboration from All Parties, Says Deputy Governor Surya

North Sumatra Deputy Governor Surya has emphasised that improving the quality of education in West Nias Regency requires collaboration and commitment from all parties. He stated that togetherness is key to accelerating educational progress in the Nias Islands region, which still faces various limitations.

The message was conveyed by Surya during a visit to SMAN 1 Mandrehe, West Nias Regency, on Tuesday, 11 August 2026. Addressing the headmaster, teachers, and students, Surya called on the local government, school principals, teaching staff, and all stakeholders to work together to realise quality and equitable education.

According to Surya, developing the quality of education in an area still categorised as disadvantaged requires comprehensive support. Therefore, improving education cannot be the burden of a single party but must be undertaken collectively.

“These aspirations must be collaborated on together, so that what we all desire can be realised,” Surya said.

Surya also advised teachers to carry out their educational duties with sincerity and to serve as role models for their students. He noted that a teacher’s role is not only to impart knowledge but also to act as a parent and educator who shapes the children’s character.

“Educate our children with sincerity, be role models for them. We must behave and act as parents, as educators,” he explained.

He also highlighted the distinction between practising as a teacher and being an educator. An educator, he said, must understand that every child has different abilities, so the learning process cannot treat all students uniformly.

“For example, out of 32 children we teach, not all 32 will have the same abilities. An educator cannot generalise the capabilities of all children,” Surya said.

He further stated that knowledge is the most noble asset because it never diminishes even when shared with others. He therefore urged all teachers, whether civil servants, government contract workers, part-time, or non-permanent staff, to always carry out their noble duties as educators with sincerity.

According to Surya, a teacher’s dedication should not be measured solely by material compensation. Sincerity in educating and imparting knowledge to the younger generation is a vital part of building the region’s future.