West Lombok DPRD Slams NTB Provincial Government Over Near-Collapse Schools Left Unrepaired

The West Lombok Regional Council (DPRD) has rebuked the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) provincial government, which it deems slow in repairing severely damaged schools. As a result, hundreds of pupils at several state senior high schools have been forced to study at emergency locations because their classrooms are on the verge of collapse.

Saeun, a member of Commission IV of the West Lombok DPRD, highlighted the sluggish handling of damaged schools, such as SMAN 1 Gunungsari, where six classrooms have been sealed off due to the risk of collapse, and SMAN 1 Lingsar, which previously suffered severe damage.

“I have met with the school authorities several times, and the situation is truly concerning. Those sealed classrooms have long been in need of attention,” he said on Thursday (30/7/2026).

According to Saeun, there has yet to be any concrete action from the NTB provincial government. Meanwhile, the damage has forced pupils to study in the canteen, the lobby and other emergency spaces.

“Yet to this day the provincial government has taken no action. It is pitiful — pupils have to study in the canteen and even the school lobby, when this is supposed to be a model school,” he said.

The PAN politician also questioned the provincial government’s readiness to manage senior high schools, an authority transferred from the district governments. In his view, if the province cannot handle the problem, management of the schools should be returned to the districts.

“Senior high schools were originally under the district’s authority; the province took them over several years ago. The province has received several hectares of land and the schools, yet it cannot manage to build anything. If it is incapable, just hand them back to the district,” he asserted.

Saeun said he frequently receives complaints from residents who are dismayed to see their children studying in storerooms and school lobbies.

“This has been going on for a very long time. People are angry because they see their children studying in discomfort. Residents do not know whether the province or the district holds the authority, so they simply report it to us,” he said.

He urged the NTB provincial government to repair the damaged schools immediately rather than waiting for casualties.

“Get it sorted now; do not wait for public outcry before acting. Let us not wait until lives are lost,” he pleaded.

Hundreds of Pupils Studying in Canteens and Storerooms

Previously, hundreds of pupils at SMAN 1 Gunungsari were forced to study in the lobby, canteen, prayer room, storeroom and even laboratories after six classrooms were sealed off due to their near-collapse condition.

The head of SMAN 1 Gunungsari, Musyrifin, said the sealing was carried out on the recommendation of the NTB Provincial Public Works and Housing Office (Dinas PUPR), after an inspection concluded that the classrooms had to be vacated for safety reasons.

“Based on the inspection by the provincial PUPR office, we were advised to clear the classrooms. But we were already short of four classrooms to begin with. If you count it, around 360 pupils are affected,” he said.

According to Musyrifin, the building uses a concrete roof supported by wooden beams, which was deemed risky. He hopes the government will carry out repairs promptly so that teaching and learning activities can return to normal.

“We at the school hope this is repaired soon, because studying in a proper classroom is very different from an emergency space like this. Many pupils complain about the heat, and the canteen is dusty,” he concluded.