Providing Comfortable Classrooms in Sumatra Disaster-Affected Areas, PRR Task Force Disburses Rp1.9 Trillion

The Task Force for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) Post-Sumatra Disaster continues to expedite the revitalisation of education facilities affected by hydrometeorological disasters in the provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

According to data from the PRR Task Force as of 8 May, the total number of affected education facilities in the three provinces reaches 4,922 educational units. Despite facing significant damage, all affected schools are ensured to continue learning activities with 100 per cent achievement, whether in the original schools, emergency classes, education tents, or temporary learning locations.

To date, 3,002 schools have carried out Revitalisation Cooperation Agreements for educational units with a total budget of Rp2.86 trillion. Of that amount, 2,792 schools have received the first phase disbursement with a total of Rp1.9 trillion disbursed.

In Aceh, revitalisation has been underway in 2,012 schools with a total budget of Rp1.98 trillion. Meanwhile, in North Sumatra, it covers 658 schools with a budget of Rp600.9 billion, and in West Sumatra, 332 schools with funding support of Rp281.7 billion.

Spokesperson for the PRR Task Force, Amran, stated that the acceleration of school revitalisation continues to be driven because education is one of the priority sectors in post-disaster recovery.

“Affected education facilities are indeed quite extensive. Therefore, the construction and rehabilitation process continues to be pushed so that completion can happen quickly,” said Amran.

According to him, the acceleration of revitalisation is also carried out through cross-sector collaboration, including with the Indonesian Army (TNI AD). As many as 2,606 schools are being revitalised through self-management, while 267 schools in the category of heavy damage and relocation are handled through cooperation with TNI AD.

Amran explained that the construction process for affected schools is carried out in stages because it must adapt to field conditions, starting from land clearing to rebuilding for schools that have suffered heavy damage.

“If heavily damaged, it certainly requires new construction so it cannot be immediately occupied. Therefore, some schools are temporarily relocated to ensure learning continues,” he concluded.

The PRR Task Force ensures that the acceleration of education facility revitalisation will continue so that students in affected areas can return to learning safely and comfortably.