Deteriorating Building Prompts Relocation of SDN 5 Buahan to New Site

Students at SDN 5 Buahan on Jalan Susut, Desa Buahan, Kecamatan Payangan, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali, will soon have a new school building. The current structure is old and in unfit condition for use.

“The new location is not far. Only 500 metres from the old location,” said Head of Gianyar Education Office Made Mawa to detikBali on Thursday (12 March 2026).

According to detikBali’s observation, the SDN 5 Buahan building sits at a road junction and extends from south to north. It is long enough to accommodate classrooms for grades 1 through 6, a library, staff room, headmaster’s office, four toilets, one storage shed, and a ceremonial ground.

The entrance is on the eastern side. Here there are the staff room, headmaster’s office, and three classrooms. The condition is quite concerning. Doors in two classrooms on the eastern side appear to be open. They were not intentionally left open, but are broken and cannot be locked. Similarly, two classrooms with access from the western side have ceilings that still consist of gedek or rattan weaving.

Cream-coloured wall paint throughout the building has flaked off extensively. Four toilets without doors and one storage shed at the northern end appear shabby.

“(The building condition) has already been surveyed by us. We were already planning to budget for renovation. But we decided against it because residents and the village head requested relocation instead,” said Mawa.

Mawa stated that residents requested the school’s relocation for two reasons: the location is dangerous, and the building condition is too poor for renovation alone.

Therefore, construction of a new school is necessary at a new location. Mawa said physical construction will begin in May through June.

“Currently, planning is underway. It is still being processed by the Procurement Service Unit (ULP) of Gianyar Regency Government. The budget is Rp 5 billion,” he said.

Nyoman Sumur, a local resident, said the school underwent renovation in 2000. However, only minor work was done. The ceiling was replaced with new material, but still with gedek. Repairs were also carried out on the western side building columns and floors in several classrooms only.

“If I recall correctly, it was repaired a little in 2000,” said Sumur.

Sumur, who was among the first students to attend the school, noted that since the school was constructed in 1982, its condition has not changed much until now. He expressed concern about the condition of his alma mater, which current students must still endure.

“I feel sorry for the children at this school. If I had a child attending here, I would be anxious,” he said.