Deputy Minister Encourages Bajo Students in Wakatobi: 'You Can Be Great People'

Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Wamendikdasmen) Fajar Riza Ul Haq welcomed Bajo tribe students participating in the fourth day of the Friendly School Orientation (MPLS Ramah) at SMP Maritim Mola, Wakatobi Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province.

In a written statement released in Jakarta on Friday, Wamendikdasmen Fajar chose to have a relaxed dialogue by asking simple questions about their hometowns, new friends, and even their lunch menus, which made the students enthusiastic to answer and gradually eased the atmosphere. The deputy minister also paid special attention to Bayu, a student with special needs, who was also taking part in the MPLS.

He stated that such an approach must be part of the implementation of the Friendly MPLS at SMP Maritim Mola. On the occasion, Wamendikdasmen Fajar also said that the improvement of learning technology through the provision of Interactive Flat Panels (IFP) is proof that the quality of education is no longer determined by a school’s geographical location.

‘You who live in Wakatobi can become great people in Indonesia. Don’t be inferior to people from Jakarta,’ said Wamendikdasmen Fajar. As background, through the Education Unit Revitalisation Programme, SMP Maritim Mola received a budget of approximately Rp2.96 billion to build four new classrooms, a library, an administration room, a school health unit room, two toilets, and to rehabilitate the science laboratory. The series of Friendly MPLS activities is now supported by a more comfortable learning environment.