Ministry partners with TNI to accelerate school reconstruction in Aceh
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) is collaborating with regional governments and the Indonesian Army (TNI AD) to accelerate the recovery of educational services following hydrometeorological disasters in Aceh Province.
During a review of school rehabilitation and reconstruction progress in Aceh, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti affirmed the government’s target to have most of the affected schools operational again by the 2026/2027 academic year.
“We extend our gratitude to the Aceh Provincial Government, district and city governments, and the ranks of the TNI AD who have partnered with us in the process of revitalising, rehabilitating, and reconstructing schools affected by the disaster,” Minister Mu’ti said in a written statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.
“Hopefully, the revitalisation, rehabilitation, and reconstruction process can be completed as soon as possible, so that the children of Aceh can return to learning optimally in their schools,” he added.
He noted that one of the schools currently undergoing rehabilitation is SD Negeri Utue, which was established in 1984 and suffered damage to several classrooms, ceilings, toilets, and its drainage system, causing waterlogging during rain.
This year, Mu’ti said, SD Negeri Utue received a budget of Rp1.83 billion. The rehabilitation components include five classrooms, three toilet blocks, one administration room, construction of a school health unit (UKS) room, eight sets of classroom furniture, one set of library furniture, two sets of UKS room furniture, and three packages of environmental improvement works.
On the same occasion, Implementing Commander for Rehabilitation Lieutenant Colonel Inf Arino Vranta Sinurat stated that SD Negeri Utue is part of a programme to rehabilitate 190 disaster-affected schools in Aceh.
“In Aceh Province, there are 190 schools being rehabilitated by the TNI AD due to the impact of hydrometeorological disasters. Specifically at SD Negeri Utue, we are working on seven classrooms, two administration rooms, bathrooms, furniture procurement, and school environmental improvement,” he said.
According to Arino, the work is carried out using a type II self-managed pattern that combines civilian professional workers and TNI personnel.
“We are involving eight civilian construction workers and three TNI personnel who work together so that the construction proceeds effectively and is completed according to the target,” he said.
Head of SD Negeri Utue Suwarni appreciated the construction pattern that allows teaching and learning activities to continue.
“Alhamdulillah, we do not need to relocate students to other places. The work is carried out in stages, so rooms that are still suitable can be used for learning. Teachers and TNI personnel also work together to ensure student safety during the construction process,” she said.
Through the collaboration between the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, regional governments, and the TNI AD, the school rehabilitation in Aceh is expected not only to restore damaged buildings but also to bring back safe and comfortable learning spaces for thousands of students after the disaster.