DPR Member Urges Acceleration of School Revitalisation Following Sumatra Disasters
Jakarta, VIVA – Chair of DPR Commission X, Hetifah Sjaifudian, has highlighted the still far-from-ideal learning conditions in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra during a Coordination Meeting of the Post-Disaster Recovery Task Force for Sumatra at the DPR complex.
According to a presentation by Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti, 4,852 schools have been affected by the disasters. Of these, 99 schools are still conducting lessons in tents or emergency classrooms due to ongoing clearing work, whilst the remainder have classrooms that are no longer usable. A further 22 schools are sharing facilities with other institutions because their buildings were swept away and require relocation.
Hetifah urged that disaster response efforts be accelerated, as only approximately 30 per cent of affected schools have so far signed Education Unit Revitalisation Cooperation Agreements with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.
Hetifah also stressed that the revitalisation budget should not focus solely on infrastructure development but should also cover the replacement of school equipment, furniture, practical tools and laboratory apparatus, as well as support for affected teachers and educational personnel.
“The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education estimates that the budget required for Post-Disaster Education Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra amounts to Rp 5.5 trillion, of which Rp 1 trillion has been disbursed,” Hetifah said in a written statement on Friday, 20 February 2026.
Hetifah also noted that some temporary housing sites remain unconnected to educational facilities, which she said could affect students’ learning conditions.
“Currently, temporary housing is not always connected to public facilities and educational infrastructure. This will certainly affect children’s learning conditions. Therefore, when permanent housing is eventually built, better coordination will be needed, particularly for schools that are to be relocated,” she said.
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has been pressing ahead with plans to increase and finalise cooperation agreements for post-disaster education unit revitalisation in Sumatra in order to restore teaching and learning activities as well as educational services.
Minister Abdul Mu’ti reported during the Coordination Meeting of the Post-Disaster Recovery Task Force for Sumatra with DPR leadership in Central Jakarta on Wednesday that his ministry had signed cooperation agreements with 746 education units, with a total agreement value of Rp 866.5 billion as of 15 February 2026.