Three People's Schools in South Sulawesi Delay Orientation as Buildings Remain Incomplete

The construction of three Integrated People’s Schools (SRT) in South Sulawesi Province has not been completed and is confirmed to be affecting the school orientation period (MPLS) for new students in the 2026-2027 academic year.

The three schools are SRT Wajo, SRT Soppeng, and SRT Sinjai. Meanwhile, the People’s Schools that have already held their orientation period include SRT Barru, SRT Sidrap, SRT Tana Toraja, SRT Bone, SRT Takalar, and SRT Makassar.

“The remaining ones that have not held MPLS are Soppeng, Wajo, and Sinjai. The plan is for this August,” said Head of the South Sulawesi Social Service Malik Faisal on Wednesday.

Once the orientation period has been held, he continued, the People’s Schools are expected to be able to carry out the learning process and meet students’ basic needs for studying and living in dormitories. However, they are still constrained by the fulfilment of needs such as clean water and school building construction that is not yet 100 per cent complete.

“Indeed, in the end the students were sent home due to various considerations. The People’s School area is still in the progress of construction, so it is considered ineffective for the children,” said Head of SRT Sinjai Rahmat Surianto.

The plan for students to enter, which was previously scheduled for 31 July, has also been postponed again for similar reasons. After observing the development of construction on the ground, the school then set 15 August as the time for in-person learning activities to begin in the school environment.

Rahmat explained that a number of buildings serving as main facilities, such as dormitories and learning buildings, are considered functional for use. Although not all buildings are 100 per cent complete, the facilities that are ready are deemed sufficient to support students’ learning activities.

“One hundred per cent complete for several buildings that are ready to be made functional. That means not all buildings are finished. If we had to wait for all buildings to be completed, it might take longer, while our children have not been to school for a long time,” he said.

In addition, SRT Wajo is experiencing a similar situation. The unfinished school building construction has meant that teaching and learning activities are being carried out online while waiting for the school building construction to be completed.

Another obstacle is the fulfilment of clean water for the boarding school. The dry season and the soil contours at the People’s School construction site are the reasons for the difficulty in supplying water to the school.

“We continue to try to coordinate with the regional water company (PDAM) to fulfil water needs at the school, especially since the students must soon attend school and live in the dormitory,” said Head of SRT Wajo Asri.