Merah Putih School in Rempang to Secure Future for Underprivileged Children
Construction of the Merah Putih Integrated School in the Rempang area, Batam, Riau Islands, has officially begun. The establishment of this school brings hope that children from underprivileged families in the hinterland can access decent education.
The construction was marked by a groundbreaking ceremony and the installation of the first foundation piles by the Head of BP Batam/Mayor of Batam, Amsakar Achumn, accompanied by the Deputy Head of BP Batam/Deputy Mayor of Batam, Li Claudia Chandra, and the Chairman of the Merah Putih Foundation, Eddy Hussy, on Thursday (24/9).
The school will be built on 18.5 hectares of land and will cater to primary, junior high, and senior high school levels using a boarding school system.
Managed by the Merah Putih School Foundation, the construction is targeted for completion by the end of 2028. It forms part of the government’s commitment to providing quality educational access for Indonesia’s ‘Golden Generation’, specifically for children in the Rempang and Galang regions.
“We must not be late in designing education for the nation’s children. This school will become a part of history, producing children from the hinterland who will contribute to the future development of Batam,” said Amsakar in a written statement cited on Sunday (27/9/2026).
He noted that the school’s development is part of an effort to prepare a young generation capable of contributing to the development of Batam and Indonesia in the future.
Meanwhile, Li Claudia Chandra stated that the Merah Putih Integrated School will be equipped with international-standard facilities and infrastructure. The school is planned to feature premium facilities including a Sports and Multipurpose Building, a Mosque, Worship Halls, Student and Teacher Dormitories, a Central Library, a Canteen, an Olympic-sized Swimming Pool, Football, Basketball, and Volleyball courts, Foundation Offices, Meeting Rooms, extensive Guest and Bus Parking, and a catchment pond/lake.
These facilities are designed to support the learning process and ensure the optimal growth and development of students.
“Indonesia Emas (Golden Indonesia) must be populated by our children from Rempang, Galang Buluh, and other hinterlands with reliable and high-quality education. This school is a vital part of educational history and is expected to support the progress of the Rempang area and Batam City,” said Li Claudia.
She emphasised that the construction is not only focused on providing educational facilities but also on the effort to prepare a young generation that possesses quality and competitiveness.
On the same occasion, Eddy Hussy expressed appreciation for the support of Amsakar Achmad and Li Claudia Chandra, which encourages business actors to participate in the school’s development.
“Our hope is that this school serves as an effort to prepare resilient human resources. We hope this noble initiative receives support from all parties until completion and brings great benefits to Batam in the future,” said Eddy.
Similarly, the Head of the Merah Putih Integrated School Development Team, Robinson Tan, stated that the development of the school will be a noble milestone for the nation’s future generations, particularly providing quality learning opportunities for underprivileged children in the Rempang, Galang, and surrounding areas.
“This is a historical note for Batam City. It is a noble mandate for us, for the future of many local children who will drive the development of this region moving forward,” said Robinson Tan.
With the commencement of construction, the Merah Putih Integrated School is expected to become an educational hub capable of producing a character-driven, competitive young generation that contributes to achieving the Indonesia Emas 2045 vision.