JAKARTA - In a number of areas on the island of Java, building materials can arrive at the project site in just a few hours using trucks.
However, a different condition must be faced in the construction of People's Schools (SR) in West Halmahera and North Halmahera Regencies, North Maluku Province.
To build the boarding education facility, the construction materials must first cross the ocean before arriving at the project site.
In the midst of the geographical challenges typical of the archipelago, the construction of two SRs carried out by PT Hutama Karya (Persero) through HK-MAP KSO continues to be driven so that it can be immediately utilized by the children of North Maluku.
The construction materials were sent in stages using the sea route to Halmahera Island.
The delivery schedule must be adjusted to the sailing and weather conditions so that material supplies are still available when needed in the field.
Not only that, the intensity of the rain is also a factor that must be taken into account in every stage of work.
Despite facing various limitations, construction is still underway.
On land with an area of around 8.8 hectares in each location, the government built an integrated education complex with a building area of around 27,150 square meters.
The facilities built not only in the form of classrooms, but also include elementary, junior high and high school buildings, male and female dormitories, teachers' apartments, mosques, multipurpose buildings, kitchens, canteens to sports fields.
The boarding school concept was chosen so that students from various regions in North Maluku can have better access to education without being constrained by distance and geographical conditions.
To pursue the completion target, Hutama Karya has implemented a number of construction acceleration strategies.
Working hours are extended through long shift patterns, while the number of workers is added during peak work periods.
The productivity of the foundry was also improved by adding concrete equipment and implementing a number of more efficient construction methods.
The use of precast foot plate and foundation (precast foot plate) is one solution to accelerate the work of the structure without reducing the quality of the building.
Meanwhile, on the area work, the contractor applied the macadam filling method to accelerate the recovery of access to roads affected by the rain.
Director of Operations II of Hutama Karya, Mardiansyah, who reviewed the project in West Halmahera and North Halmahera directly on June 3, 2026-June 4, 2026, emphasized that the quality of the building remained the main priority in the midst of acceleration efforts.
"We prioritize quality at every stage and continue to spur physical completion on the ground, so that this educational facility is ready to optimally support the learning process of children in North Maluku," he said as quoted from a written statement, Monday, June 8.
Apart from providing educational infrastructure, the construction of SR also has an economic impact on the surrounding community.
Around 20 percent to 25 percent of the project's workforce comes from local residents.
The Company also involves local subcontractors and utilizes material supplies from local suppliers.
This condition also drives the wheels of the community's economy during the construction period.
Nurlinda, a resident of Tuniku Village, hopes that the construction can be completed soon so that children in her area have the opportunity to get a better education.
"Hopefully it will be completed soon, so that children can go to school. Because many children are less able," he said.
As of early June 2026, more than half of the construction work has been completed. Construction activities are now focused on completing architectural work, arranging the area and other supporting facilities.
If all the work goes according to target, the SR complex in West Halmahera and North Halmahera will not only be a new building in North Maluku, but also a symbol of efforts to provide more equitable education to the Indonesian archipelago.
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