2,798 Schools Damaged, Chairman Of Commission X DPR Urges Government To Move Quickly To Restore Sumatra Education

Chairman of Commission X DPR RI Hetifah Sjaifudian asked the Ministry of Education and Culture, Ministry of Education and Technology, and BRIN to accelerate the recovery of post-disaster education services in Sumatra. He emphasized that the government must ensure that all policies favor children and the future of the nation's next generation.

"Children and the younger generation in Sumatra have lost many things due to disasters. Don't let them lose their education rights," Hetifah told reporters, Wednesday, December 10.

He added that the state has a moral, legal and humanitarian obligation to ensure education continues for affected students.

Hetifah explained that in a meeting of Commission X of the DPR with the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Education and Technology, and BRIN on Monday, December 8, it was agreed that quick steps would be taken to deal with educational issues in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

According to the Golkar legislator from the East Kalimantan electoral district, the disaster in Sumatra has crippled education services widely. "Temporary data shows that 2,798 schools were affected, 5,421 classrooms were damaged, and more than 600,000 students were disrupted in the learning process," said Hetifah.

At the higher education level, as many as 60 universities were also affected. Academic activities have stalled due to damage to facilities and emergency situations on campus. Hetifah assessed that this condition shows the low resilience of the national education system against disasters.

"In an emergency like this, the country's top priority is to ensure the learning process can resume as quickly as possible, even through emergency rooms, tents, or village halls," he said.

He emphasized that school rehabilitation should not run slowly or be held hostage by the bureaucracy. Therefore, Commission X of the DPR urges strong coordination between the Ministry of Education and Culture, Ministry of Education and Technology, BNPB, Ministry of PUPR, Ministry of Social Affairs, and local governments so that education recovery runs quickly and is directed.

Hetifah assessed that there are eight urgent steps that the government must immediately take. First, restart learning without waiting for the building to finish so that the rhythm of children's learning does not disappear.

Second, accelerate the rehabilitation of school buildings with disaster-resistant standards. Third, providing psychosocial services for students and teachers. Fourth, ensure basic learning equipment is available, including stationery, books, uniforms, and gadgets.

Fifth, provide relaxation of education rules, simplify administration, postpone assessment processes such as exams, and accelerate the distribution of operational assistance and rehabilitation. Sixth, providing UKT exemption or scholarships for students who study outside the disaster area but their families are affected.

"The seventh, providing social assistance for teachers, lecturers, and affected education personnel. Finally, strengthening coordination across ministries and local governments with a clear command," said Hetifah.