Minister of Basic and Secondary Education: Banyuwangi Has Many Innovations in the World of Education

Banyuwangi (ANTARA) - The Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen), Abdul Mu’ti, stated that Banyuwangi Regency, East Java, has many breakthroughs and creative as well as strategic programmes in the field of education. “Especially services for those who do not have the opportunity to attend school due to various reasons. Therefore, today I attended the National Education Day (Hardiknas) commemoration together with the Banyuwangi Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda), which took place solemnly and very festively,” he said after the Hardiknas 2026 ceremony at Taman Blambangan, Banyuwangi Regency, East Java, on Saturday. “That is a very good achievement and earlier I spoke with the Regent before the event started. Banyuwangi has many breakthroughs and creative and strategic programmes in the world of education,” he added. Meanwhile, Banyuwangi Regent Ipuk Fiestiandani stated that Banyuwangi has several creative programmes aimed at ensuring school-age children remain in school. She exemplified the Regional Movement to Lift Young School Dropouts (Garda Ampuh), which focuses on identifying school dropouts and helping them return to school through various schemes. Then there is the Peer Foster Student programme, where students who are economically better off set aside some of their pocket money, which is then collected to help the needs of economically disadvantaged students, buying bicycles, glasses, school supplies, and even for students from other schools. “We greatly appreciate and thank Mr. Mendikdasmen, Abdul Mu’ti, along with his team, for holding the Hardiknas 2026 ceremony in Banyuwangi,” said Ipuk. Regent Ipuk added that for Banyuwangi, education is not only about the academic world, but also about how to combine children’s potentials, both in the fields of arts, culture, and various other potentials. “This is what makes Banyuwangi involve students in every arts and culture agenda, including one of them, the colossal Kuntulan Ewon art today,” she said.