Prabowo: No More Children Should Risk Their Lives Going to School

President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto, in his State Address at the Parliamentary Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday (14/8), affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of children on their journey to school.

The statement was delivered by Prabowo during the Annual Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the Joint Session of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) at the Nusantara Building, Parliamentary Complex, Senayan, Jakarta. Prabowo also highlighted journeys to school that can take hours.

“There must no longer be any of our children who have to risk their lives just to cross a river to get to school because there is no bridge,” said Prabowo.

“Going to school requires walking for hours. Arriving wet, sitting in class wet, returning home wet. Ladies and gentlemen, this must not happen,” he added.

Prabowo stressed the importance of good connectivity between villages. He mentioned that the government is targeting the completion of more than 5,000 village bridges by the end of this year. Prabowo also revealed the involvement of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri) in the effort to build village bridges.

“This year, we have completed 2,500 village bridges built by the TNI and 874 village bridges built by the Indonesian National Police,” he said.

Prabowo also expects regional governments to report the need for village bridge construction. Prabowo stated that if regional governments cannot resolve this issue, the central government will step in and address it.

“We hope that all governors, regents, sub-district heads, and village heads check their villages. Wherever a village bridge is still needed, report it,” said Prabowo.

“If governors, regents, or village heads cannot resolve it, the central government will step in and address it. We will not allow our people to be neglected,” said Prabowo.