Merah Putih School in Batam to Prioritise High-Achieving Students and Hinterland Areas

The Batam Free Trade Zone Authority (BP Batam), Riau Islands, has stated that the Merah Putih Integrated School will prioritise high-achieving children while opening special pathways for children from hinterland areas, specifically Rempang and Galang.

The Head of BP Batam and Mayor of Batam, Amsakar Achmad, speaking in Batam on Sunday, noted that the concept of the Merah Putih Integrated School differs from the ‘Sekolah Rakyat’ (People’s School) model. While the latter is intended for underprivileged communities, the Merah Putih Integrated School focuses on developing superior human resources through achievement-based selection.

“The children entering this school will be high achievers. However, we are also providing space for children in Rempang and Galang to receive special opportunities,” said Amsakar.

He explained that the school’s construction involves the business community through a full financing scheme provided by the private sector. Once construction is complete, the facilities will be donated to the government.

“It is not the government that is building or financing this. Currently, it is still in the planning and land maturation stage. After that, we will move into the construction phase,” he said.

The target is for the school construction to be completed by the end of 2028, so that the new student admission process can commence that same year.

“This institution will not be managed by the private sector, but by the government. We will discuss further whether it will fall under BP Batam or the Batam City Government, but the responsibility remains with the government,” he added.

In addition to preparing infrastructure, the government will also conduct special recruitment for teaching staff to ensure the quality of education at the school.

“We require educators who possess competence and capacity. Therefore, a separate recruitment process will be conducted to ensure this school is truly staffed by the best teachers,” said Amsakar.

The Merah Putih Integrated School is expected to become a centre for superior human resource development in Batam, while simultaneously expanding access to quality education for children in outlying coastal areas.