People's School Buildings Must Prioritise Child Safety, Sudjatmiko: Cannot Be Built Carelessly

House Commission V member from the PKB faction, Sudjatmiko, has assured that the construction of the People’s School complex in Bekasi Regency will proceed on target, with quality, and prioritise child safety and environmental sustainability. He made the statement following a working visit to the site. Sudjatmiko highlighted several critical issues, ranging from construction progress and potential cost deviations to the quality of facilities that students will use. He emphasised that the People’s School is a strategic government programme that must be built with meticulous planning to become a safe and comfortable educational facility for children from underprivileged families. “We see there is still a work deviation that needs to be mitigated immediately. Technical and management execution issues must not hinder this very noble programme. Therefore, I urge a comprehensive design review so that project implementation can run more efficiently and on time,” Sudjatmiko said during his visit on Sunday (14/6). According to him, the work deviation, which has reached around 20 percent, must be taken seriously. He assessed that the subcontract execution pattern and project cash flow management need to be improved so as not to disrupt construction progress on the ground. Beyond construction aspects, Sudjatmiko also paid significant attention to environmental management in the People’s School area. He argued that development is not sufficient if it only provides retention ponds or water collection basins; it must also be equipped with infiltration wells to maintain groundwater balance. “If we only make water catchments without paying attention to groundwater recharge, it could cause problems in the long term. The building structure might remain safe, but other facilities such as roads, sports fields, and public areas have the potential to experience subsidence or cracking. This will certainly add to maintenance costs later on,” he explained. Sudjatmiko also requested that child safety aspects be a top priority in building design. He reminded that People’s School students, especially those in grades 1 to 4 of primary school, still require extra supervision and protection. “Classrooms and dormitories must be designed safely. If there is a two-storey building, its windows must have adequate safety guards. There must be no gaps that could endanger the children. Their safety must be the main standard in construction,” the PKB legislator asserted. He also highlighted the quality of sanitation facilities. According to him, bathrooms and toilets must use strong and damage-resistant materials so they can be used in the long term. “Do not just pursue aesthetics. Bathroom doors, sanitation, and all supporting facilities must have good quality standards because they will be used by many children every day,” he said. On the occasion, Sudjatmiko also proposed that the greening concept in the People’s School environment not only use shrubs but also be complemented with fruit-bearing trees such as guava, mango, and starfruit. “Children need a beautiful and pleasant environment. If there are fruit trees, they not only get shade but can also learn to love nature while gaining benefits from the fruit produced. This will be an added value for the People’s School,” he said. Sudjatmiko appreciated the construction of the People’s School as one of the government’s efforts to break the chain of poverty through quality education. He hopes this project can become a national pilot that provides new hope for Indonesia’s children. “The People’s School programme must be a symbol that the state is present to provide equal opportunities for every Indonesian child. Therefore, construction must be carried out properly, with quality, paying attention to safety, and being environmentally friendly,” he concluded.