AHY inspects progress of People's School development in Singkawang
Singkawang — Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) inspected the construction progress of a People’s School (Sekolah Rakyat) in Singkawang, West Kalimantan, as part of a national priority programme to expand educational access for underprivileged communities.
During his visit, accompanied by Singkawang Mayor Tjhai Chui Mie, AHY expressed appreciation for the local government’s support in developing the educational facility.
“I am pleased that during my visit to Singkawang I was accompanied directly by the Mayor. Today we are at the construction site of the People’s School. In West Kalimantan Province there are three People’s School development projects, which are part of President Prabowo Subianto’s vision for poverty alleviation,” AHY stated in Singkawang on Monday.
According to him, the People’s School programme aims to provide children from underprivileged families with access to quality education free of charge.
“This is free for people who cannot afford it. We want to ensure children receive proper education so they have a better future,” he said.
Based on reports from the technical implementer, construction progress at the site has reached approximately 11 per cent. The government targets the project for completion in mid-2026.
“The progress reported was approximately 11 per cent. We hope it can be accelerated so it can be completed by 2026,” he said.
AHY revealed that the construction faced several challenges, including weather conditions and labour availability, given the labour-intensive nature of the project. For each location, the estimated budget requirement is approximately 240 billion rupiah, bringing the total budget for three projects in West Kalimantan to around 750 billion rupiah.
Regarding facilities, the People’s School is designed as an integrated educational complex encompassing primary, secondary and senior secondary levels within one area. Facilities to be built include classrooms, laboratories, multipurpose halls, and sports amenities such as a football pitch and running track.
“Looking at the blueprint, this is ideal. Within one complex there is a complete education hub, including sports facilities. It can accommodate up to 1,200 students,” he said.
He expressed hope that once completed, the People’s School in Singkawang would be used optimally to develop a generation of youth who are outstanding and of integrity.
AHY also emphasised the importance of maintaining quality and work safety during project implementation.
“We can work quickly, but safety comes first and construction quality cannot be compromised. We want speed, but quality speed,” he said.