PU Ministry Targets Tanah Datar People's School to Operate by 2027 Academic Year
The Directorate General of Strategic Infrastructure at the Ministry of Public Works is targeting the construction of a People’s School in Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra, to be completed and ready for use by the 2027 academic year.
Acting Director General of Strategic Infrastructure Kuswara stated in Jakarta on Friday that the location presents challenges as it is situated on a hilly slope covering approximately 19.5 hectares. He said the entire process, from tender to completion, is expected to take about one year, with physical construction work lasting around five to six months.
"The target is for the school to be usable by the new academic year in 2027," Kuswara said.
The People’s School complex will be equipped with various educational and supporting facilities. In addition to school buildings for elementary through senior high school levels, it will include student dormitories, teacher flats, a multipurpose hall, a mosque, a canteen and kitchen, other places of worship, and supporting amenities such as sports fields. It will also feature a guard post, waste disposal site, generator house, pump house, water tanks, fire protection facilities, perimeter fencing, and a main gate.
Kuswara also requested that the teacher dormitories not be placed too far from the student dormitories, noting that close proximity would facilitate teachers in providing guidance and supervision to the students.
The Director General received an audience with Tanah Datar Regent Eka Putra and his staff in Jakarta. The meeting discussed the development plan for the People’s School to be located in Nagari Tanjung Alam. Regent Eka Putra expressed the local government’s appreciation for the Ministry of Public Works’ support in building the school. He acknowledged that the hilly terrain poses a challenge but expressed optimism that the construction can proceed according to plan with proper land preparation. He also expressed hope that the building design would accommodate local Minangkabau wisdom, for instance by incorporating elements of traditional house architecture into the school complex.