BP Batam Socialises Merah Putih Integrated School for Rempang Community
Batam, Riau Islands – The Batam Free Trade Zone Authority (BP Batam) has conducted a socialisation programme for the Merah Putih Integrated School for the community and prospective students on Rempang Island, the designated site for the school’s construction.
The Head of BP Batam, Amsakar Achmad, stated that the socialisation activity was held to coincide with National Children’s Day and the upcoming 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia. “Today, we want to provide an understanding of the Merah Putih Integrated School, as this school will soon be built in Rempang. This school is our effort to design superior human resources in the hinterland region,” he said in Batam on Sunday.
Attended by hundreds of local children from Rempang and Galang, Amsakar emphasised that they must be motivated and inspired to lead the future of Batam. “The Merah Putih Integrated School will comprise primary, junior high, and senior high schools. We are confident this school will produce children with great intellectual weight,” he added.
Situated on 18.5 hectares of BP Batam’s Land Management Rights (HPL), the integrated school aims to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty by providing free access to education for children from underprivileged families. The ongoing processes include completing permits for Spatial Planning Suitability Approval (PKKPR), Environmental Impact Assessment (AMDAL), and Building Approval (PBG).
Once all licensing processes are finalised, Amsakar noted that physical construction will be carried out in stages, with a completion target of 2028. “We do not want construction to begin without ensuring all legal and technical aspects are completed. This ensures that development can proceed on time and comply with existing regulations. Because this school is not merely about building a structure, but about building the future of Batam’s generation in facing national development challenges,” he said.
The Deputy for Infrastructure, Mouris Limanto, explained that the integrated school will be equipped with various facilities. “There will be a dormitory, so students will have accommodation within the school area. There will also be sports areas including football, basketball, and a swimming pool, as well as a library and places of worship, including a mosque and a church,” he said.
Vocational education will also be a primary component of the teaching and learning process to enhance competitiveness in the current era of scientific and technological advancement. “The government wants children from underprivileged families to receive a proper education, so they are well-equipped to face competency challenges in the workforce,” added the Deputy Head of BP Batam, Li Claudia Chandra.