Deputy Minister: SNT a Golden Bridge for Regional Education Quality Centres

Deputy Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Fajar Riza Ul Haq has described the Integrated National Schools (SNT) as a ‘golden bridge’ to expand access to quality education, positioning them as centres of educational excellence for the regions. Speaking during a visit to the SNT in Cianjur, located at the Centre for Agricultural Vocational Education Quality Development (BBPPMPV) Pertanian, he urged students to make the most of the opportunity. ‘For those of you who have successfully enrolled in SNT, this is a luxury because not everyone has the same opportunity. If this opportunity is not utilised, it will be a loss,’ he said. He expressed optimism about the students’ potential, noting their positive aura and brilliant abilities, and voiced his hope that future regents, governors, ministers, and other national leaders would emerge from the school. The Deputy Minister also advised parents and school administrators to provide continuous support, as the main challenge of the SNT programme is its non-residential system, which requires students to commute daily. He emphasised that SNT must not become an exclusive institution; instead, it should be inclusive and open, allowing other schools in Cianjur to visit, learn, and utilise its advanced technological facilities. The core philosophy behind establishing SNT is to create a regional quality centre that disseminates good educational practices, with the hope that schools in remote areas will be inspired to visit and raise their own standards.