Vice President Gibran Soroti Minim Lighting when Reviewing Mimika Education Center

Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka and his entourage arrived at Mozes Kilangin Airport, Timika, Central Papua, on Monday evening (20/4/2026). (ANTARA/Mentari Dwi Gayati)

MIMIKA - Vice President Gibran Rakabumimg Raka highlighted the lack of lighting in one of the classes when reviewing the Education Center in Mimika Regency, Central Papua.

The Vice President visited the SD Negeri, SMP Negeri, and SMA Negeri 5 Sentra Pendidikan, and interacted directly with students and educators.

"The classroom is very dark. Is the electricity off, Mr. Teacher?" asked Gibran when he entered one of the classes that was studying mathematics.

While looking at the classroom ceiling, Gibran realized that there was only one light that worked in the room so it seemed to be less light even though the window was open.

In his review, Vice President Gibran visited a number of class facilities, including science and information technology laboratories.

While at the informatics laboratory, the Vice President paid attention to the learning materials provided to the high school 10th grade students, especially related to the Microsoft Excel formula material program.

"Have you taught the formula material yet? The input is still manual, not using the formula? When will it be taught?" asked the Vice President.

"It will be taught in class 11, sir," replied Nurhayati, who has been an Informatics Teacher for 1 year and 4 months, at the SMAN.

A total of 1,031 students are studying at the Mimika Education Center, consisting of 205 elementary school students, 285 junior high school students, and 541 high school students.

Apart from the classes and facilities of the school, Gibran also reviewed the dormitory where the students stayed.

When entering the dormitory corridor, the Vice President also highlighted the minimal lighting in the building.

"The maintenance (maintenance) is a bit less," said the Vice President before leaving the dormitory.

Head of the Sentra Education Secondary School, Anton Rante, said the Sentra Education school provides boarding facilities for students from remote areas to ensure that access to education is maintained.

"What we prioritize is children from remote areas such as coastal areas or villages who have no family in the city, so that they can stay in boarding schools," he said.

He emphasized that all the needs of students had been financed by the government such as schools, dormitories, uniforms and meals.

In line with this, one of the SMP Nikolausma Payau students admitted that he had a positive experience while staying in the dormitory. "I feel very comfortable in the dormitory, and there we are also guided like by our own parents," he said.

He hopes that the Vice President's visit can provide motivation for students to continue to study.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Sentra Education Elementary School, Syamsiah Muksin, explained that the Sentra Education School, which has been established since 2010, is intended for children from various indigenous tribes in Mimika.

"This school was established for the original sons and daughters of Mimika, from the two major tribes of Kamoro and Amungme, as well as five other related tribes," he said.

During the visit, Vice President Gibran was accompanied by, among others, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Ribka Haluk, Central Papua Governor Meki Nawipa, Deputy Regent of Mimika Emanuel Kemong, Head of the Mimika Education Office Cahyono, and Head of SMAN 5 Sentra Education Martius Wenda.