Children Must Learn Calmly, Banyumas Develop SPAB In Schools

Iustration-A number of students get free school uniforms from the Surabaya City Government, Thursday (24/7/2025) ANTARA/HO-Surabaya City Government

BANYUMAS - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Banyumas Regency, Central Java, is targeting as many as 40 junior high schools (SMP) to implement the Disaster Safe Education Unit (SPAB) program by 2025.

"Our target is that by 2025 there will be 40 junior high schools, both public and private, which we will assist in implementing the overall SPAB," said Head of BPBD Banyumas Regency, Budi Nugroho, after inaugurating the SPAB at Puhua School, Purwokerto, Antara, Friday, July 25.

Budi explained, based on a risk study, Banyumas Regency has two types of major disasters that have the potential to occur in all regions, namely earthquakes and extreme weather, such as floods, landslides, strong winds, ground movement, and drought. Some areas are also on the slopes of Mount Slamet which has the potential for eruption.

Therefore, he continued, education units must have a disaster risk management system, safe infrastructure, and disaster education integration into the curriculum.

"The formation of the SPAB is not just a simulation, but an effort to build a culture of sustainable disaster safe. We encourage schools not only to be physically prepared, but also to the management and preparedness of their citizens," said Budi.

He said this program was an implementation of the Regulation of the Minister of Education and Culture (Permendikbud) Number 33 of 2019 concerning the Implementation of the SPAB Program. The program includes three main pillars: disaster risk management, safe infrastructure, and disaster learning that is integrated in the curriculum and extracurricular.

Puhua School became the first school in Banyumas to be designated as a SPAB, after going through a verification and assistance process by BPBD.

"We really appreciate the steps taken by Puhua because they proactively ask for assistance and are willing to be a model. Hopefully, this spirit can be imitated by other schools," he said.

According to Budi, the Banyumas Regency Education Office has also gathered all middle school persons to socialize this program and map the readiness of each school.

"With good collaboration between the government, foundation, and the school, we are optimistic that the target of 40 schools implementing SPAB in 2025 can be achieved," he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Putera Harapan Purwokerto Foundation, Yudi Sutanto, stated that the implementation of the SPAB was a form of school compliance with the Banyumas Regency Government's appeal, especially BPBD.

"As a public facility, schools must provide a sense of security and calm to children when participating in teaching and learning activities," said Yudi who is also the chairman of the Indonesian Three Language School Association (Perstibi).

According to him, schools must not only be magnificent, beautiful, and comfortable, but also safe from disaster risk. Therefore, his party will also provide disaster lessons to students according to school SOPs.

"Even though we are under Mount Slamet, it seems that we are always safe, but we must remain vigilant, we must not slack off," he said.

The same thing was conveyed by the Director of Puhua School, Chen Tao Laoshi. He said that disaster simulations have been routinely held every semester. However, after learning of the SPAB program, the school felt helped to increase disaster readiness more thoroughly.

"With the SPAB, schoolwork is not only to simulate or make disasters a subject matter, but also to build a safe culture in the educational environment," said Chen Tao.