House Commission X Demands Sumatra School Rehabilitation Be Completed Before Lebaran
A number of schools in Sumatra continue to hold classes in tents as a result of recent natural disasters. Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR) has demanded that school repairs be completed before Lebaran so that learning activities can return to normal.
“At the last coordination meeting with the ministers — the task force coordination meeting — we requested that the rehabilitation and revitalisation process, particularly for educational facilities and infrastructure, be completed before Lebaran. That is what we demanded. And the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is prepared to deliver on that,” said Deputy Chairman of Commission X, Lalu Hadrian, at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday (20 February 2026).
Lalu explained that the follow-through depends on the readiness of local governments, as implementation on the ground often fails to match planning.
“Now it comes down to how local governments can work together to make this a success. Because what has been happening, if you will pardon me, is that plans are in place but conditions on the ground do not match the planning,” he said.
“But we insist that whatever the obstacles, they must be resolved immediately. At the very minimum, this should be completed before Lebaran, particularly in the education sector, so as not to disrupt the teaching and learning process,” he added.
He noted that field conditions, including ongoing rainfall, remain a challenge for repairs. Nevertheless, it has been agreed that rehabilitation must be completed before Lebaran.
“Particularly the field conditions. It turns out that when construction is about to begin, it rains again — mud and so on. There are many factors,” he said.
Previously, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti stated that the learning process in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra had resumed at 100 per cent. However, he acknowledged that teaching and learning activities were not yet fully ideal following the floods and landslides.
“We reported that, in general, learning activities in the three disaster-affected provinces have resumed at 100 per cent. However, learning has not yet taken place under ideal conditions,” said Abdul Mu’ti during a meeting with DPR leaders at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday (18 February).
“Some are still learning in tents or emergency classrooms, and some are sharing facilities at other schools,” he continued.
Mu’ti explained that, overall, the number of schools that had returned to learning at their original premises was 3,001 in Aceh, 626 in West Sumatra, and 1,104 in North Sumatra. Meanwhile, some schools continue to operate from emergency tents.
“Those still learning in tents or emergency classrooms number 52 in Aceh, 21 in West Sumatra, and 26 in North Sumatra,” he said.
As for schools still sharing premises with other schools, there are 20 in Aceh and 2 in West Sumatra.
“The overall totals are 3,073 in Aceh, 649 in West Sumatra, and 1,180 in North Sumatra,” he said.
“We reported that those learning in tents or emergency classrooms currently stand at 99. Some have already returned to their original schools as the clean-up process has been completed. The remainder are schools whose classrooms can no longer be used,” he added.