Kudus Regency Government Budgets Rp1.5 Billion For Procurement Of Furniture For 34 Schools For Face-To-Face Learning Preparation

The condition of the table and chairs of an elementary school in Kudus Regency, Central Java. (Photo: Akhmad Nazaruddin Lathif/Antara)

JAKARTA - The Education, Youth and Sports Office of Kudus Regency, Central Java has budgeted Rp1.5 billion for the procurement of additional furniture in 34 elementary and junior high schools as preparation for face-to-face learning (PTM) following a number of schools starting to hold PTM simulations.

"Of course, in a number of schools there are many tables and chairs that are no longer suitable for use, especially since the pandemic period there has been no face-to-face learning," said Head of the Kudus Regency Education, Youth and Sports Office Harjuno Widodo in Kudus, Friday.

After receiving special allocation funds (DAK) from the central government, his party then allocated some funds for the procurement of furniture in the 30 elementary schools and four junior high schools.

The needs of each school, he said, are different because some require work cabinets, library cabinets, and desk chairs for students and teachers.

The furniture procurement project has entered the auction stage at the Procurement Section of the Kudus Regency Regional Secretariat with an estimated temporary price (HPS) of Rp1.36 billion. The implementation uses a fast auction system and before the end of August 2021 there must be a contract signature with the auction winner, while the disbursement of the budget is directly from the center.

"The quality standard of the proposed furniture is also in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications, but because the latest regulation is not allowed to mention the brand name, only the specifications are in the auction," he said.

In the previous auction, an unreasonable bid appeared because it was only Rp12.98 million. It is hoped that later offers will actually appear at reasonable prices.

Procurement of furniture for elementary and junior high schools in Kudus Regency has been proposed since 2018, but has only been realized this year. In the near future, all schools will begin limited face-to-face learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic.