Minister: School Revitalisation Creates Decent Learning Spaces and Boosts Local Economy
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Abdul Mu’ti has stated that the school revitalisation programme aims to create decent, safe, and comfortable learning spaces for students while simultaneously boosting local economies through community-managed construction. Speaking in Purbalingga, Central Java, on Saturday, he noted that if each school employed 15 workers, the programme could benefit approximately 1.1 million workers across 71,744 schools. ‘If this revitalisation proceeds, God willing, the local economy will be stimulated,’ he said.
The minister explained that the current allocation for Purbalingga Regency in 2026 covers 12 schools, but this number is likely to increase as the government plans to expand the national quota. The provisional quota for 2026 stands at 11,744 schools, but President Prabowo Subianto has repeatedly announced an additional allocation of around 60,000 schools, bringing the estimated total to 71,744 schools. Mu’ti made these remarks after inaugurating the revitalisation results of 32 educational units for 2025 and handing over mock-ups of the 2026 programme to 12 schools at SMP Negeri 2 Kutasari.
The inauguration was marked by the signing of plaques for the 32 educational units revitalised in 2025 as part of the President’s Best Quick Results Programme. Mu’ti issued a stern warning against corruption, stating, ‘Please ensure there is no corruption. If any party promises a school this programme and asks for a fee, please report it. The Inspectorate General will investigate wherever it is, because this is our commitment to ensuring revitalisation proceeds according to the President’s directives so children can study safely and comfortably.’
Purbalingga Regent Fahmi Muhammad Hanif expressed appreciation for the ministry’s programmes, which he said have had a tangible impact on improving education quality, from digitalising learning through Interactive Flat Panels and the Smart Indonesia Programme to school revitalisation. He noted that Purbalingga received revitalisation assistance for 44 educational units for the 2025-2026 period, comprising 32 schools in 2025 and 12 schools in 2026, with a total budget of IDR 39.58 billion. Additionally, for the first phase of the 2026 Smart Indonesia Programme, Purbalingga received an allocation of IDR 32.25 billion for 45,651 students. The regent also requested that the central government prioritise the construction of an Integrated National School in Purbalingga.