Banyumas 'Sekolah Rakyat' Prepares for New Student Orientation Amid Ongoing Construction
The Sekolah Rakyat Menengah Pertama (SRMP) 13 Banyumas in Central Java is finalising preparations for the Masa Pengenalan Lingkungan Sekolah (MPLS) for new students, scheduled to begin on 30 July 2026, even though the permanent school building is not yet fully ready due to ongoing construction work.
Head of the school, Siti Isbandiyah, stated at the Satria Baturraden Centre on Monday that all preparations for the MPLS, matriculation, and the relocation of facilities to the permanent school complex have been carried out in stages. “We have actually been preparing for the MPLS for a long time. However, because the permanent building is not 100 percent ready, we, together with the local government and the person in charge, decided that the opening will be held on 30 July, while the main activities will start on 31 July,” she said.
She explained that the activity on 30 July will be an opening and initial introduction for new students at the permanent building located in Karangcegak Village, Sumbang District, Banyumas. The following day, students will undergo fitness tests and free health checks before participating in the MPLS series and the matriculation programme. The schedule adjustment was made considering the safety, security, and comfort of students, as part of the school area is still adjacent to the construction site.
The school has also begun moving learning equipment and preparing all necessities for the MPLS, health checks, and matriculation. For the 2026/2027 academic year, the Sekolah Rakyat in Banyumas will accommodate around 242 students from elementary, junior high, and senior high levels. This number consists of approximately 205 students from Banyumas and around 38 students entrusted from Kebumen Regency, who are temporarily studying in Banyumas as permanent schools in their area are not yet available.
Siti Isbandiyah acknowledged that the quota for elementary-level students from Banyumas has not been fully met. “The elementary children are still relatively young, so many are not ready to be separated from their parents. We cannot force them because they must come to school happily,” she explained.
She further stated that the MPLS is not only about introducing the school environment but also serves as the initial stage of character building and adaptation to boarding school life. All students come from the lowest two economic deciles, so the social gap among students is relatively small. “We want them to understand that everyone has the same opportunity. There should be no shame about their family conditions. We are building a spirit of living together, loving one another, helping each other, and being brave enough to look to the future,” she said.
During the first three months, the school will focus on character building through the Gerakan 7 Kebiasaan Anak Indonesia Hebat (7KAH) programme, strengthening literacy and numeracy, and creating a future roadmap for each student. Based on the previous year’s experience, changes in character begin to be visible within the first three months of boarding education. Character building will also be reinforced through mentoring by cadets from the Military Academy to instil discipline and boarding life habits. Regarding the possibility of a nomenclature change for the Sekolah Rakyat in Banyumas, the school is still awaiting a decision from the central government.