Ministry of Education and Culture's Basic and Secondary Education Accelerates Post-Disaster Recovery of Education Services

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) updated a number of work plans during the first two weeks of March to accelerate the post-disaster recovery of education services in Sumatra. Jamjam Muzaki, representative of the National Secretariat of the School Safety Unit (SPAB) of Kemendikdasmen, said they are ready to continue coordination meetings on post-disaster reconstruction with the education offices of Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra provinces and with education units in the next two weeks. ‘Currently, several coordination meetings with local governments, with schools for verification, and also for cooperation agreements for revitalisation are still being conducted,’ Jamjam said in central Jakarta on Thursday. Furthermore, he noted that Kemendikdasmen aims to add around 248 PKS (cooperation agreements) with education units to accelerate the revitalisation process for schools affected by disasters. In addition, he said they will over the next two weeks continue the verification process and the creation of accounts for 13,000 teachers who will receive special allowances. Regarding supporting teaching and learning activities, Jamjam said Kemendikdasmen will also resume government assistance in the form of ICT equipment, laboratories, sport, hygiene and APE (Alat Peraga Edukasi), with total aid valued at Rp60 billion. ‘Psychosocial support training and monitoring of student and teacher attendance and the implementation of teaching in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra will also be carried out over the next two weeks,’ he added. The authorities are also ready to provide mentoring on best practices and emergency teaching models for schools affected by the disaster in the three provinces.