Member of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Muhammad Hilman Mufidi, welcomed the news from the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) which stated that 85 percent of schools in the disaster-affected areas of Sumatra were ready to operate.
Hilman also asked schools to play an active role in helping to recover the mental condition of students who were victims of disasters in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
"We certainly welcome the plan to operate 85 percent of schools in the Sumatran disaster area. We hope that schools can help the process of mental recovery of students who are mostly traumatized after the Sumatran disaster," Hilman told reporters, Thursday, January 1.
Hilman emphasized that many students who were victims of disasters experienced trauma due to the events they experienced, and not a few who lost parents or close family members. This condition, according to him, has the potential to affect the emotional development, learning concentration, and motivation of children in the long term.
"The opening of this school must be accompanied by psychological assistance so that students can return to learning optimally," he said.
Hilman also encouraged schools to become a safe space for students by prioritizing a child-friendly approach. The learning process, he said, should begin with psychological recovery activities, such as creative activities, educational games, and entertaining activities.
"Mental recovery is an important foundation before learning goes back to normal. Children need to feel safe and calm so that they are ready to receive lessons," he said.
In addition, Hilman also asked the government to ensure the fulfillment of students' basic education needs, including school supplies and the repair of damaged facilities and infrastructure due to disasters. He reminded, many students have the potential to return to school without bringing learning supplies because they are affected by floods and landslides.
"The state must ensure that no child is left behind due to limited school supplies," he said.
Hilman added that education is the basic right of every child that must be guaranteed by the state, including in post-disaster situations. He hopes that natural disasters will not interrupt access to education and the future of children in affected areas.
"Children should not be victims twice, because of disasters and because of losing access to education," he concluded.
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