Minister Of Social Affairs: Education For Children In Border Areas Is Blocked Access

Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini at the Flower Sowing Ceremony on the Buritan Geradak KRI Dr. Radjiman Wedyodiningrat (992) Teluk Jakarta, Friday (10/11/2023). (ANTARA/HO-Kemensos)

JAKARTA - Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini said access to difficulty reaching advanced education is one of the problems of children in border areas in Indonesia.

The Minister of Social Affairs gave an example of one of the children on Bertam Island, Riau, which has many islands and Pulau Nunukan, North Kalimantan, which was recently visited.

If the children have to continue their education to junior high school level, according to Social Minister Risma, they have to move to another island. Even if necessary, the boarding house is near the school.

"Children are now different from my time, what about their safety, if they have to be separated from their parents, while using ship transportation. Even in Kroyan District, Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan, they have to fly, because the only access is only by airplane. This is a problem that we have to think about," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, November 10.

In addition, Social Minister Risma also mentioned the problems in the Mapia Islands, Papua, which are very difficult to access, and have to travel by sea for 19 hours by KRI Wahidin Sudirohusodo. The Ministry of Social Affairs also provides assistance in improving schools and health centers, whose materials and equipment are transported by ship.

Therefore, Social Minister Risma said that next week she would assign several staff to handle border areas, especially for population data and so on. The activity will cooperate with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of PPPA, and other ministries.