Education Ministry: Revitalisation Programme Improves Learning Comfort in Wakatobi

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) has stated that the school revitalisation programme has successfully improved the comfort and safety of learning activities for students in Wakatobi Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province. Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti said the programme is proof of the government’s seriousness in providing equitable access to quality education. “This revitalisation is a tangible manifestation of the state’s presence to deliver justice in access to quality education. Schools must be the most longed-for and enjoyable places for students to pursue knowledge,” Mu’ti said in Central Jakarta on Wednesday. One of the schools benefiting from the programme is SMP Swasta Maritim Mola, which previously suffered from leaking classrooms, fragile floors, and decaying wooden structures. Director General of Early Childhood, Primary, and Non-Formal Education Gogot Suharwoto emphasised that the revitalisation is a national effort to provide safe and comfortable schools for all Indonesian children, including those in coastal and island regions. “For the Bajo children in Wakatobi, a proper school is not just a new building, but a safe and comfortable space to nurture hope, maintain their maritime identity, and open pathways to a better future,” Gogot said. On a separate occasion, the Head of SMP Swasta Maritim Mola, Narto, explained that the school’s geographical location on the water presents unique construction challenges. Despite this, the school remains an integral part of the community’s life. “Geographically, our school is in the middle of the Bajo community in the coastal area. After school, many children join their parents to fish or go to sea. Therefore, the school must also provide adaptive learning without causing them to lose their identity and maritime traditions,” he said. Through the School Revitalisation Programme, the school received a budget of approximately IDR 2.96 billion. The changes are not only visible in the four sturdy new classrooms but also include additional facilities such as a library, a School Health Unit (UKS), an administration room, toilets, and the rehabilitation of the science laboratory. He expressed his appreciation for the government’s attention to improving the quality of educational facilities and infrastructure through the programme, particularly in coastal areas, which has brought about real change.