Government prepares land to build Garuda School in Maros

Jakarta (ANTARA) — The Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Stella Christie, conducted a direct inspection of two proposed locations for Garuda School development located in Pucak Village, Tompobulu District, Maros Regency, South Sulawesi, on Friday (27 February).

The inspection was conducted to ensure land readiness in terms of technical aspects, legality, and potential for developing an integrated education area based on science and technology.

Deputy Minister Stella stated that the Garuda Superior Senior Secondary School is planned to require approximately two hectares of land with a relatively flat contour, although it does not necessarily need to be in one continuous plot.

The main built-up area comprising academic buildings and sports fields is estimated at 1–1.5 hectares and must be situated on flat land to ensure construction safety and efficiency.

During the visit, Deputy Minister Stella also inspected livestock research facilities with potential to serve as educational and research collaboration partners. The area has laboratory facilities for frozen semen production (cattle and buffalo sperm) with processes that meet SNI standards.

This facility has signed a memorandum of understanding with Hasanuddin University for strengthening research and development of livestock reproduction technology.

Frozen semen distribution is conducted to various regencies and cities through field officers, supporting programmes to increase livestock population and quality.

“There was very interesting research, cattle insemination research. To be able to increase production of fresh milk and also the quality of cattle in Indonesia. The research was truly remarkable,” she said.

Artificial Insemination (AI) technology became one focus of research strengthening. One superior stallion can produce up to 10,000 straws per year.

From a single ejaculation (approximately 5 cc), material can be processed for insemination of 200–300 females, with each straw containing approximately 25 million spermatozoa cells (0.25 cc).

Current pregnancy success rates reach approximately 75 per cent. The AI method is considered far more effective than natural breeding in utilising superior stallions.

Through synergy of Garuda Superior Senior Secondary School development and strengthening applied research facilities in the region, the government affirmed its commitment to providing superior education integrated with national strategic needs.