PRR Task Force admits education has not yet run optimally in disaster-affected areas

Banda Aceh, Indonesia — The Sumatra Post-Disaster PRR Task Force for Acceleration of Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) has admitted that the education process in disaster-affected areas has not yet run optimally, even though learning has already been underway in almost 100 percent of affected schools. ‘Learning processes are almost entirely under way, but not yet optimal, not ideal,’ said Tito Karnavian, head of the Sumatra post-disaster PRR Task Force, in Pidie Jaya, Aceh, on Friday. He made the remarks after distributing individual stimulus assistance to disaster-affected communities in Pidie Jaya, Aceh. He noted that many institutions have been affected across the spectrum—from PAUD (early childhood education centres), primary schools, junior high schools (SMP), senior high schools (SMA) to pesantren or madrasah. Regarding this, he said, coordination and data collection continued from regional heads and the special team deployed by the Ministry of Education and Culture’s Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) to classify damages as light, moderate, severe or lost. “Thus, in places with light or moderate damage, repairs are underway and schooling continues. For areas with severe damage, some students still study in tents, though these have now been equipped with the necessary facilities. The learning process is almost 100 percent underway, but not yet optimal, not ideal,” he said. He noted that around 3,700 schools across three provinces were damaged. All of this will need to be addressed, but it will take time. For madrasah and pesantren, this is the responsibility of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, which has also formed its own data-collection team. “But much of the work will be carried out by the Ministry of Public Works (Kementerian PU). Some are contracted to third parties, by Kemendikdasmen or the Ministry of Religious Affairs,” Tito Karnavian added.