Strengthening the Indonesia ASRI Movement Through School Clean-Ups in Yogyakarta
From school classrooms, the spirit of keeping things clean is expected to spread to public spaces and residential neighbourhoods.
Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - Laughter and banter rang out, while expressions of enthusiasm radiated from the faces of students from the city of Yogyakarta who filled the school grounds and pavements along Jalan Cik Di Tiro in Terban, Gondokusuman District.
Armed with brooms and litter pickers, boys and girls from kindergarten, primary, junior high and senior high school levels picked up rubbish scattered along the pavements, drainage channels and public facilities on the edge of Yogyakarta’s main thoroughfare.
Accompanied by teachers, youth organisations and members of the community, they took part in the Reresik Sekolah (School Clean-Up) Movement, a joint effort to clean up school environments and surrounding areas so they remain clean, comfortable and pleasant to look at.
The activity took place on Friday morning (17/7), the final day of the School Environment Introduction Period (MPLS) for the 2026/2027 academic year across all educational institutions, from kindergarten through to senior high schools in Yogyakarta.
According to data from the Yogyakarta Education, Youth and Sports Office, there are at least 11 schools or educational institutions along this strategic protocol road, an area that serves as a hub for education, health and banking in the heart of the city.
For this reason, students from kindergarten to senior high school level in the area were deployed to join the School Clean-Up Movement in the morning, before continuing the final day of MPLS activities at their respective schools.
The area was chosen by the Yogyakarta city government because it lies at the centre of city activity, stretching from the area bordering Sleman Regency, around Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) roundabout in the north, to the Gramedia crossroads in the south.
“For the ceremony, we happened to choose SMP Negeri 1 Yogyakarta at 29 Jalan Cik Di Tiro. To the left and right, or east and west, of that stretch of road within an 800-metre radius, there are 11 schools located in the area,” said Mugi Suyatno of the Youth Development Working Team at the Yogyakarta Education, Youth and Sports Office.
The MPLS for the 2026/2027 academic year in Yogyakarta was held simultaneously across all levels of education from Monday (13/7) to Friday (17/7), before new students begin effective learning activities on Monday (20/7).
The opening of the MPLS in Yogyakarta on 13 July was conducted by Mayor Hasto Wardoyo at SMP Negeri 10 Yogyakarta, while the series of activities was closed by Deputy Mayor Wawan Harmawan at SMP Negeri 1 Yogyakarta.
Thus, the School Clean-Up Movement, led by the Deputy Mayor and centred on Jalan Cik Di Tiro, marked the closing of the MPLS series across all educational institutions at every level.
“So, this activity also serves to reinforce the Yogyakarta city government’s efforts to make Yogyakarta a comfortable place, and to support the success of the Indonesia ASRI Movement (Safe, Healthy, Clean and Beautiful),” said Mugi Suyatno.