Jakarta, May 25, 2026—The government has made the revitalization of educational institutions in disaster-affected areas one of the main priorities of post-disaster recovery efforts in Sumatra. As of May 12, 2026, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) had distributed revitalization aid to 3,084 schools in the affected areas.
Muhammad Qodari, Head of the Government Communications Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (Bakom RI), stated that accelerating the revitalization of educational institutions on the island of Sumatra reflects the serious attention the government and the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) are giving to post-disaster recovery efforts. “This coordination meeting reflects the great attention being paid by the President, the government, and the DPR RI to the disaster that occurred in Sumatra,” said Qodari during a press conference following the Coordination Meeting on Post-Disaster Response in Sumatra at the DPR RI in Jakarta on Monday (May 25). Interior Minister Tito Karnavian, who also serves as Chair of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sumatra, explained that a total of 4,992 schools in Sumatra were affected by the disaster. Of that number, the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has distributed revitalization and rehabilitation aid to 3,084 schools. “Additionally, the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has allocated approximately Rp3,084 for renovation and rehabilitation work carried out in collaboration with other agencies,” he said. Regarding the more than 1,000 schools that have not yet been revitalized, Tito emphasized that the rehabilitation and reconstruction process for those schools is still in the planning stage for further development. “Well, there are still about a thousand more that were mentioned earlier—but that doesn’t mean they’re being neglected. For those thousand schools, the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education will collaborate again to develop construction plans,” Tito explained.
The government has also allocated a substantial budget to accelerate the recovery of the education sector following the Sumatra disaster. “The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has already disbursed Rp2 trillion. There is still approximately Rp1.8 to Rp1.9 trillion remaining,” he said. In addition to damage to schools, Tito noted that there are still a number of other infrastructure facilities, such as bridges, that have not yet fully recovered. Nevertheless, the teaching and learning process continues in most of the affected areas. A number of schools are still using temporary facilities, particularly in disaster-prone areas slated for relocation. “Of the 4,922 schools, there are several operating out of tents, especially in high-risk zones where relocation is planned,” he said. According to Tito, the government is currently discussing the readiness of relocation sites for schools located in disaster-prone zones. Meanwhile, some other schools are still using emergency facilities or sharing space with nearby schools. “Some are sharing space with other schools. Others are in makeshift classrooms,” he said.
