DPR Asks For Revitalization Of 11,179 Sustainable Schools Despite The Decreased Ministry Of Education And Culture Budget

School illustration (Pixabay)

Deputy Chairman of Commission X of the DPR, My Esti Wijayati, asked for the revitalization of 11,179 educational units from PAUD to SMA levels in the program to accelerate the improvement of Facilities and Education Infrastructure (PSPP) to continue, although the budget at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) has decreased.

"In the midst of the decline in the Ministry of Education and Culture's budget, this program is certainly very good because it can improve the quality of Indonesian education services," Esti told reporters, Thursday, September 18.

"But schools must be given technical support in order to be able to care for and manage educational facilities in a sustainable manner. So that then, large investments in the country will not be damaged again in a short time," he continued.

He also encouraged the revitalization of schools to be integrated with improving the quality of learning, teacher welfare, and fulfilling educational supporting facilities such as laboratories, libraries, and internet access.

"Don't let the revitalization only produce magnificent buildings without improving the quality of education in them. Quality education is born from a combination of a good learning environment, a prosperous teacher, and adequate support facilities," said Esti.

Esti ensured that the DPR will closely monitor the revitalization of this school so that every stage of development runs according to quality standards, not only quickly. He also stated that his party was committed to ensuring that the revitalization of 11,179 schools actually answered the real needs of the world of education and was carried out transparently.

"As well as taking sides with improving the quality and equitable distribution of national education," said the legislator from the Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY) electoral district.

In the midst of this revitalization plan, Esti paid attention to the Ministry of Education's budget which fell to Rp 55 trillion. This number is considered small considering that many of the Ministry of Education and Culture's programs will run, one of which is that they are required to study for 13 years.

Therefore, Esti supports the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu'ti to communicate with President Prabowo Subianto regarding the amount of budget his ministry received at RABPN 2026. He hopes that Abdul Mu'ti's meeting with President Prabowo can increase the budget of the Ministry of Education and Culture.

"We hope that the meeting between the Minister of Education and the President can produce good results for the development of the world of national education," concluded Esti.

As is known, 11,179 schools have signed cooperation agreements (PKS) with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) to receive assistance in the context of revitalizing educational units. The number of educational units that have conducted PKS consists of 1,260 PAUD, 3,903 SD, 3,974 SMP, and 2,042 SMA.

For the distribution of revitalization funds, as of September 8, 2025, 70 percent of the total aid ceilings to 9,595 schools have been distributed, namely 1,071 PAUD, 3,832 elementary schools, 2,650 junior high schools, and 2,042 high schools.

Meanwhile, the realization of phase II of 30 percent of the total number of aid ceilings will be provided after the progress of the implementation of school physical development has reached 70 percent. The Ministry of Education and Culture targets all school physical construction to be completed by December 2025.

Even so, in the 2026 RAPBN, the Ministry of Education and Culture only received a budget allocation of Rp. 55 trillion, so it was proposed an addition. Previously, Commission X of the DPR had approved an additional RAPBN proposal of Rp. 52.9 trillion. However, after the proposal was submitted to the DPR Budget Agency (Banggar) meeting, the additional budget allocation received by the Ministry of Education and Culture in the 2026 RAPBN was only Rp. 400 billion.