Central Bangka Prepares 29.5 Hectares for National Integrated School Development

The Central Bangka Regency government in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province has prepared 29.5 hectares of land for the construction of a National Integrated School (SNI) to expand access to quality education in the region. “This year, 25 regencies in Indonesia are priority locations for the construction of National Integrated Schools, and Central Bangka is one of them,” said Regent Algafry Rahman after presenting the programme at the local DPRD building on Monday. The Central Bangka government has prepared the land in Namang Village, near the Hutan Pelawan Namang tourist area, which is government-owned property. Algafry explained that the National Integrated School has a different concept from Sekolah Garuda or Sekolah Rakyat, although all aim to broaden access to proper education for regional children. According to him, the National Integrated School is specifically designed for local students with academic achievements, whereas Sekolah Garuda is intended for high-achieving students from across Indonesia. Algafry elaborated that the school is a non-boarding, top-tier institution within an integrated educational zone covering primary, junior secondary, and senior secondary levels. “The government is establishing this premier educational institution as an effort to equalise education by providing access to high-achieving students from all walks of life,” he said. Algafry added that the institution will be directly under the auspices of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. He noted that the construction budget, estimated at Rp200 billion, will come from the state budget, while teaching staff will be recruited through a national selection system. “The regional government only needs to prepare the land according to the specified requirements and criteria,” he stated. According to Algafry, Central Bangka is the only regency in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province that meets the criteria to host a National Integrated School. “I have presented to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. Out of the national target of 100 schools, Central Bangka is included in the initial priority for the construction of 25 schools,” he said. He added that the 29.5-hectare plot being prepared is a regional government asset and will be granted to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. “Because the school is directly under the ministry, the regional asset used must go through a grant process,” Algafry concluded.