7 Schools In West Aceh Closed, DPR Asks For MEDics To Find Solutions

Illustration of school acryvities (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission X DPR RI, Lalu Hadrian Irfani highlighted the plan of the West Aceh Regency Government to close seven elementary schools (SD) due to the minimal number of students and teachers. Then asked the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) to immediately sit down with the local Government to find solutions related to this matter.

According to Lalu, this plan is a serious problem that threatens the fulfillment of children's education rights in remote areas. In fact, education is a basic right mandated by the constitution.

Basic education is the constitutional right of every child. The closure of schools without adequate replacement schemes has the potential to increase the number of dropping out of school, increase the burden on children, and weaken the quality of learning," Lalu told reporters, Friday, September 26.

Lalu mengatakan, fakta beberapa sekolah seperti SDN Paya Baro yang menunjukkan peningkatan jumlah mahasiswa, menandakan masih ada potensi perbaikan jika didukung kebijakan dan fasilitas yang tepat.

Then revealed, that the facts on the ground show an alarming condition where the children of SDN Paya Baro cried anxiously facing the possibility of traveling five kilometers to a nearby school. Even at SDN Cot Buloh, classrooms are not suitable and class I students are forced to study in warehouses due to limited facilities.

"So that we from Commission X of the DPR RI encourage local governments and the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to find alternative solutions before closing schools," said the head of the Commission in charge of education.

Then also provide a number of suggestions that can be an approach for the local government in making decisions regarding the discourse of closing schools. Such as combining schools with satellite systems and considering the addition of contract teachers.

"As well as improving infrastructure so that small schools can still function. Reposition of teachers must also be guaranteed so as not to be unemployed due to closure," he said.

Then added that the application of educational standards in remote areas should not be rigid. According to him, geographical challenges, infrastructure, and the economy must be the main consideration.

"School closure should be the last option after efforts to improve facilities, incentives for teachers, and strengthen community participation are carried out," he concluded.

As is known, SDN Paya Baro is included in the closing discourse by the West Aceh District Education Office because of the small number of students. Paya Baro Village itself is the last village in Meureubo District. SDN Paya Baro is one of 7 schools whose plans will be closed.

The West Aceh Education Office is forming a special team to conduct academic studies before deciding to close the 7 schools.