Education Minister Abdul Mu'ti Inaugurates Revitalisation of 29 Schools in Bireuen, Aceh

The Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu’ti inaugurated the results of educational facility revitalisation in 2025 in Bireuen District, Aceh. The inauguration marked the completion of construction and improvement of educational facilities across 29 schools with total assistance valued at approximately 36 billion rupiah, which is expected to enhance the quality and comfort of the learning process for students.

“With this revitalisation assistance, the government can ensure that teaching and learning activities can recover and run optimally in disaster-affected areas,” Abdul Mu’ti said in a written statement on Wednesday (11 March 2026).

Abdul Mu’ti explained that in 2025 the educational facility revitalisation programme in Aceh Province had reached 726 schools or educational units from various levels with a total budget of approximately 688.2 billion rupiah. The programme covers all levels of education, ranging from early childhood education (PAUD), basic and secondary education, to non-formal education.

According to Abdul Mu’ti, the development of educational facilities and infrastructure through revitalisation does not only focus on physical construction alone, but also forms part of a strategic effort to make education a means of building an outstanding generation of Indonesians through the provision of facilities and infrastructure.

“Building a building is not merely constructing high walls, but building solid foundations in order to develop intelligent and virtuous Indonesian children,” he said.

During the occasion, Abdul Mu’ti also urged all beneficiaries to maintain and properly utilise the facilities that have been built. He emphasised that educational facilities built through the revitalisation programme represent a long-term investment for the nation’s future.

One of the revitalisation programme beneficiaries, Acting Head of SMP Negeri 1 Peusangan Selatan, Leni, reported that the revitalisation programme had a significant positive impact on the comfort and safety of the learning process at her school. According to her, the condition of classrooms, which previously were inadequate, had greatly improved, allowing students to study with greater focus and comfort.

“Students can learn with greater focus, encouraging their learning motivation and enthusiasm because classrooms no longer leak, have proper ceilings, sturdy doors and windows, and better library and computer laboratory facilities so students are motivated to increase their knowledge and technological skills,” Leni said.

Leni added that revitalisation also brought positive impacts for teachers as adequate and conducive workspace is now available. With better facilities, teachers can carry out learning planning, discuss with colleagues, and manage learning administration in a more organised manner.

“This allows teachers to focus more on their duties as educators and instructors, thereby improving the quality of the learning process in the classroom,” Leni continued.

Similar comments were made by the Head of SMA Negeri 3 Samalanga, Ira Novita, who stated that the revitalisation programme was very helpful to her school as the facilities built matched the school’s needs. She cited the construction of a new administrative office which enabled the science laboratory to be utilised to the full by students.

“With the new administrative office, students can now use the science laboratory to its full capacity for learning, as previously they had to share the space with the administrative office,” Ira said.

Meanwhile, the Head of SMA Negeri 1 Peudada, Yuslina, reported that revitalisation had been very helpful in improving the school’s condition, which had been in its previous state for quite some time and required improvements in various areas. Students and teachers alike viewed the construction very positively as the available facilities were now far more adequate and supportive of teaching and learning activities.

“Thank goodness it is 100 per cent complete and we have begun to use it. Through this revitalisation, four classrooms have been rehabilitated, a library room, toilets, and three new buildings—namely a toilet, health clinic, and counselling room,” Yuslina said.

The benefits of revitalisation were also felt by the Head of SLB Vokasional Muhammadiyah Bireuen, Istiarsyah, who observed significant changes to his school’s environment after revitalisation was carried out. According to him, the school environment, which previously was cramped, had become more spacious, allowing students to have more room to move around freely. Additionally, the school now has several new facilities that were not previously available.

“There is a sensory integration room, a library room, a health clinic, and a skills room that we did not previously have. We will utilise these facilities to the fullest to enhance the potential of children with special needs,” Istiarsyah concluded.