Cirebon's 'Sekolah Rakyat' Features Gateway Blending Local Culture
The Ministry of Public Works (PU) is applying local cultural architecture to the construction of a Sekolah Rakyat (SR) in Cirebon Regency. Through a gateway design featuring a distinctive icon of the Cirebon Sultanate, the Ministry of PU aims for the SR building to still represent the region’s cultural identity, even though it is built with international standard educational facilities.
Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo said that all SRs being built have international standards. This is a form of President Prabowo Subianto’s commitment to honouring children from underprivileged families.
“All Sekolah Rakyat built by the President are of international standard. He wants to honour our younger siblings from underprivileged families by providing magnificent and high-quality schools. They are not only getting education, but also dormitories, meals, uniforms, shoes, and even laptops. The hope is to break the chain of extreme poverty and prepare the generation for Indonesia Emas 2045,” Dody said in a statement on Tuesday (30/6/2026).
Meanwhile, Head of the West Java Strategic Infrastructure Implementation Task Force, Tomi Hendratno, said the design of the SR area also applies the cultural identity of the Cirebon Sultanate. “The design of Sekolah Rakyat Cirebon is identical to the culture of the Cirebon Sultanate. We adopted the Candi Bentar gateway design, which is then applied to the main gate of Sekolah Rakyat. This is an architectural icon in Cirebon and a characteristic of the local culture, as almost all government offices in Cirebon also use this kind of gateway concept,” Tomi explained.
Furthermore, the Cirebon SR is also designed for efficient spatial planning. This is evident from the building functions that remain fulfilled despite being built on relatively limited land. “The advantage of the Cirebon Sekolah Rakyat is its very compact design, utilising the available land optimally. No buildings or facilities are reduced, so all spatial needs are still met through a maximised layout,” said Tomi.
On the other hand, Senior Vice President of PT Brantas Abipraya (Persero), Syafriandy, confirmed that the implementing contractor continues to carry out various acceleration strategies to ensure the work is completed according to the target. “Firstly, we ensure all materials are already available at the project site so that time can be more efficient. The next strategy is that we add workers, including from the TNI, and implement night shifts so that the completion of the Cirebon Sekolah Rakyat can be achieved within the specified timeframe,” Syafriandy explained.
Syafriandy added that the acceleration of the work does not reduce the commitment to construction quality. “Even though acceleration is continuously pushed, we remain committed to maintaining construction quality. For example, in the dormitory rooms, we use PVC wall panels, not just plaster and cement render, so the quality and aesthetics are better. For the buildings that are a priority before the new school year, we are targeting 5 dormitory buildings to be completed, 2 school buildings to be completed, and supporting buildings to be functional,” concluded Syafriandy.
For information, the Cirebon Sekolah Rakyat is located in Kaliwadas Village, Sumber District, Cirebon Regency, and is built on a 5.4-hectare plot of land with a total building area reaching 27,372 m2. The Cirebon SR is being built by the implementing contractor PT Brantas Abipraya - PT Uno Tanoh Seuramo (KSO). This educational complex is equipped with elementary, junior high, and senior high school buildings, male and female dormitories, teacher housing, laboratories, a canteen, a mosque, a multipurpose hall, sports fields, and various other supporting facilities. These complete facilities are built as a manifestation of providing a high-quality, comfortable, and sustainable learning environment for the students.