Donggala floods: Govt rushes aid to keep students learning

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Wamendikdasmen) Atip Latipulhayat visited the affected areas and provided aid to teachers and students affected by the flash floods in Donggala District, Central Sulawesi Province.

In a written statement from Jakarta on Saturday, Latipulhayat emphasized that the flash flood disaster required immediate handling to prevent disruptions to the learning process.

"Today, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will provide an emergency response to ensure that teaching and learning activities continue smoothly," he remarked.

He noted that the affected schools could be included in President Prabowo’s Quick Best Results Program (PHTC) for the rehabilitation and revitalization of educational facilities.

“To achieve quality education for all, which is the government’s priority, we need to provide adequate facilities for education because this is one of the indicators for the progress of education in Indonesia,” he affirmed.

Latipulhayat stated that his ministry, through the Directorate of Special Education and Inclusive Education, the Directorate of Early Childhood Education (PAUD), the Directorate of Primary Education (SD), the Directorate of Secondary Education (SMP), and the National Secretariat of Disaster-Resilient Schools (SPAB), had delivered assistance, including 450 student learning kits, two sets of educational toys for PAUD, SPAB operational assistance worth Rp135 million, one emergency classroom set, and 21 titles of non-textbook reading materials, to help maintain the learning process.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Hitler, head of SMPN 9 Tanantovea, reported that despite the flash floods, learning continued in the four classrooms that remained usable.

"We used the four classrooms that were not severely damaged to continue the lessons," he remarked.

Vice Minister Atip was accompanied by Donggala District Head Vera Elena Laruni, Deputy District Head of Donggala Taufik Muhammad Burhan, Head of the Central Sulawesi Provincial Education Office Yudiawati V. Windarrusliana, Head of the Donggala Education Office Kasmuddin, Director of Special Education and Inclusive Education (PKPLK) Saryadi, and all heads of Integrated Service Units (UPT) of the Ministry of Education and Culture in Central Sulawesi.