Friday, 31 July 2026
MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), together with Medan Mayor Rico Tri Putra Bayu Waas, conducted a direct inspection of the second phase construction progress of the "Sekolah Rakyat" located on Jalan Flamboyan II, Kelurahan Tanjung Selamat, Medan Tuntungan District, on Friday, July 3, 2026.
The visit is part of AHY's working agenda in North Sumatra Province to ensure that the development of this priority national education facility is implemented according to schedule and in line with standards set by the central government.
Also present during the inspection were Indonesian House of Representatives member Lokot Nasution, Commander of Military District Kodim 0201/Medan Lieutenant Colonel Arm Delli Yudha Adi Nurcahyo, several members of the North Sumatra Regional House of Representatives and Medan City Council, Head of the North Sumatra Social Affairs Office Ilyan Chandra Simbolon, and Head of the Medan City Social Affairs Office Khoiruddin Rangkuti.
AHY stated that the overall progress of the "Sekolah Rakyat" project in Medan has entered its final phase, with major construction work nearly completed and currently focused on finishing touches.
"When observing the construction condition, it is generally already completed. Only minor finishing works remain, including cleaning up construction materials around the school area to ensure safety," Agus Harimurti said.
He added that several safety aspects are also being optimized, including raising the height of the rear fencing to ensure the safety of future students, particularly those at elementary school age.
According to AHY, the "Sekolah Rakyat" in Medan is built on approximately six hectares of land owned by the Medan municipal government. The school is designed as an integrated education campus covering elementary, junior high, and senior high school levels, with a total capacity of around 1,080 students.
Of this number, 540 seats are allocated for elementary education, while 270 seats each are designated for junior and senior high school levels. Each class is designed to accommodate 30 students to ensure an effective and well-structured learning process.
The "Sekolah Rakyat" campus in Medan will also be equipped with various modern educational facilities, including laboratories, separate dormitories for male and female students, a cafeteria, a multipurpose hall, an amphitheater, sports facilities, and a mosque that can be used by the entire school community.
AHY emphasized that these comprehensive facilities reflect the government's commitment to ensuring access to quality education, particularly for children from low-income families.
"We want to ensure that children from families who require economic support can continue their education properly and with dignity. That is why they will stay in this boarding system so they can fully focus on learning," he said.
He further stressed that the "Sekolah Rakyat" program is a priority initiative of President Prabowo Subianto aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty through education. The program is technically implemented by the Ministry of Social Affairs in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Works.
"We aim to make a real intervention through education to break the poverty trap. Education must be accessible, high-quality, and free from enrollment to graduation," AHY explained.
Upon completion, students are expected to either continue to higher education or directly enter the workforce, particularly through vocational pathways.
AHY further noted that the Medan "Sekolah Rakyat" is one of five similar projects in North Sumatra Province, with additional locations in Deli Serdang, Serdang Bedagai, South Tapanuli, and Padangsidimpuan.
Each school carries a budget of around IDR 250 billion, bringing the total investment for the five schools in the province to approximately IDR 1.25 trillion.
"This is an investment in the future of the nation—not only in physical infrastructure, but more importantly in human resources," he said.
He also appreciated the strong support from the Medan city government since the early stages of the project, particularly in land provision and infrastructure readiness.
Medan Mayor Rico Waas stated that the city government plays an important role in providing external infrastructure support to ensure a safe, comfortable, and accessible environment for the school.
"The Medan City Government is involved in improving roads, constructing drainage systems that previously did not exist, and installing street lighting. In addition, the land for this school development was also provided by the city," Rico Waas said.
He emphasized that collaboration between central and local governments is key to accelerating project implementation.
The "Sekolah Rakyat" in Medan is scheduled to begin operations in mid-July 2026, coinciding with the start of the new academic year.
At the end of his visit, AHY highlighted the importance of post-construction maintenance, stressing that infrastructure sustainability depends heavily on consistent upkeep.
"Maintenance is just as important as construction itself. Building something is one thing; keeping it in good condition over time is another equally demanding task," he said.
He expressed hope that the "Sekolah Rakyat" in Medan will produce future generations who contribute meaningfully to the development of the city, province, and nation.
"May this school give rise to strong and inspiring young generations," AHY concluded. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Teguh Panjaitan | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
/home/u7391150/public_html/indatanews.com/theme/function.php on line 28