Education Ministry sends 50 emergency tents for schools affected by earthquake
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) has sent 50 emergency tents to support learning in schools affected by the M 7.7 earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara on 15 August 2026.
“The safety of the school community is the priority, and we will oversee the education recovery process together with the regional government until learning can resume safely and comfortably,” said Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti, as quoted from a written statement on Sunday.
He said the ministry has communicated with the Governor of East Nusa Tenggara to ensure damage assessment is carried out so that aid can be distributed accurately.
The 50 emergency classroom tents will be sent in two clusters. The first cluster of aid is scheduled to depart from Surabaya on 20 August aboard KM Dharma Rucitra 7 and arrive in Labuan Bajo on 22 August. Tent installation is targeted to begin on 23 August 2026.
The NTT Teacher and Education Personnel Centre (BGTK NTT) will receive and manage the aid at the ministry’s command post located at the Office of Education, Youth and Sports of West Manggarai Regency, Labuan Bajo.
Meanwhile, the second cluster will send 20 tents from the storage facility of the Centre for Quality Assurance Development of Vocational Education in Automotive and Electronics (BBPPMPV BOE) in Malang to Ende Port.
The NTT Education Quality Assurance Centre (BPMP) will receive the aid at the Cluster 2 command post at SKB Ende as a logistics transit point before distribution to target areas.
The team from the Directorate of Special Education and Special Service Education (PKPLK), under the coordination of the Disaster-Safe Education Unit Team (SPAB), will oversee the shipping, distribution and installation of the emergency tents.
The ministry has also directed educational units to temporarily halt learning activities in damaged classrooms and move activities to safe rooms or learning tents. Schools may also suspend learning temporarily depending on local conditions.
To support the psychological recovery of the school community, the ministry has prepared psychosocial support services in cooperation with the Indonesian Psychological Association (HIMPSI).