DPR asks 3T area to be a priority for revitalizing damaged school buildings

Illustration of a damaged school building (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Lalu Hadrian, asked the government to prioritize the revitalization of damaged and unusable school buildings in the lagging, leading, and outermost (3T) areas.

This was conveyed by Lalu highlighting the many school buildings that are still in a damaged condition. Lalu emphasized that the worrying condition of the education infrastructure should not be allowed to continue because it concerns the basic rights of Indonesian children to get a decent and safe education.

One of the viral schools that has attracted attention is SMPN 48 Sa Ate Gaikiu in Sikka Regency, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara. The school has a wooden walled building, a broken roof, and a dirt floor. This condition is considered very worrying and far from the standard of eligibility for educational facilities.

"How can we talk about improving the quality of human resources if the classrooms where children learn are still on the ground and the roof is leaking? This is not just about facilities, but about educational justice," Lalu Hadrian told reporters, Friday, February 13.

According to data from the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) for the 2024/2025 school year, continued Lalu, there are around 1.18 million elementary school classrooms in Indonesia. However, as many as 60.3 percent of them are in a state of damage.

"Meanwhile, at the junior high level, only 50.33 percent of classrooms are in good condition, with details of 24.73 percent being slightly damaged, 17.96 percent being moderately damaged, and 6.97 percent being severely damaged," he said.

Previously, said Lalu, the Ministry of Education and Culture targeted the revitalization of 11,700 schools. However, President Prabowo Subianto asked that the number be increased to 60,000 schools, so that the total revitalization target reached 71,700 schools.

Then said his party supports the addition of the revitalization target. But he emphasized that the main priority must be given to schools in the 3T area whose conditions are most worrying.

"The addition of the target to 71,700 schools is a positive step. However, its implementation must be based on objective and transparent mapping of needs. Schools in the 3T area must be placed as the main priority, because that is where the most visible education gap occurs," he said.

The PKB legislator also asked the central government to synergize with the local government to accelerate data collection and execution of revitalization, including ensuring strict supervision so that the budget is really targeted.

"The DPR RI X Commission will continue to monitor education policies and budgets so that the revitalization program runs effectively and has a direct impact on improving the quality of learning," he concluded.