DPR urges government to ensure schools in NTT continue operating after earthquake

Deputy Chairman of House of Representatives Commission X Lalu Hadrian Irfani has asked the government to ensure that the teaching and learning process for school students in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) continues after the region was struck by an earthquake some time ago.

He does not want the disaster to cause education in the area to be halted for a long period. Although aftershocks are still occurring, he said, education must continue to be provided for children.

“In addition to inspecting school buildings, we also ask for an inventory of teachers, students, and other education personnel affected by the earthquake,” Lalu said at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Wednesday.

For that reason, he said the number of emergency schools needs to be adjusted to meet demand. However, he also asked the government to take stock of any school buildings that can still be used.

“But again, we recommend that learning take place in emergency schools first. Whether tents are prepared, or students are placed in schools that were not affected by the earthquake,” he said.

He added that the government, through the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, has already moved directly to provide the assistance needed after the earthquake.