Latest News: Coordinating Minister AHY Inspects SMPN 1 Karang Baru, Ensures Post-Flood Recovery

Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) visited Karang Baru 1 Middle School, Karang Baru District, Aceh Tamiang Regency, to ensure the condition of educational facilities after the hydrometeorological disaster as well as to encourage accelerated recovery so that teaching and learning activities can resume safely and smoothly.
The inspection was carried out during a series of AHY working visits in Aceh Tamiang on Thursday (22/1), after inaugurating temporary shelter (Huntara) for residents affected by the disaster.
On that occasion, AHY emphasized that the recovery of the education sector is an important part of post-disaster management that must not be delayed. According to him, schools not only function as places of learning, but also as spaces for psychosocial recovery (trauma healing) for children affected by disasters.
AHY emphasized that children in Aceh Tamiang must continue to have a good future through access to proper education and support for fulfilling basic needs, including nutritious food intake. Therefore, educational facilities are placed as a priority in the post-disaster recovery agenda.
“Don’t let our children be left behind just because educational facilities have not been fully restored. There has been progress, but I want the recovery to be pushed even faster,” said AHY in a written statement, Saturday (24/1/2026).
During the inspection, AHY together with the Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo, the Regent of Aceh Tamiang Armia Fahmi, the school principal and teachers saw firsthand the condition of SMP Negeri 1 Karang Baru which was previously affected by flooding and mud deposits up to about three meters high. Currently, some of the mud has been cleaned, although it still remains in several areas and the soil is still soft.
A number of classrooms have been cleaned and used temporarily as communal spaces. Teaching and learning activities continue with adjustments, where class VII students study in the hall, class VIII in the UKS room, and class IX in the prayer room. SMP Negeri 1 Karang Baru is recorded as having around 710 students from three grade levels.
AHY said that further treatment was still needed in the form of thorough cleaning, building repairs, and rearranging classrooms so that schools could return to normal functioning as before the disaster.
As a follow-up, AHY revealed that on Friday (23/1) he received a report that heavy equipment had started to enter the school area. This step was taken to speed up mud cleaning and repair of facilities so that the teaching and learning process can take place more optimally.
On this occasion, AHY appreciated the hard work of the Ministry of Public Works, regional governments and all related parties who continue to work together in the post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction process. According to him, technical support such as the deployment of heavy equipment is clear evidence of the state’s presence in accelerating the recovery of the education sector.
“Schools are no less important than building housing, roads and bridges. Schools are also a means of trauma healing. Our children are still at a growing age, both physically, mentally and psychologically,” explained AHY.
AHY also highlighted the importance of comprehensive recovery, including meeting students’ basic needs. During the review, he saw firsthand the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal program which had been running and was considered to have contributed positively to the recovery of children’s conditions after the disaster.
Regarding the acceleration of school recovery, AHY explained that the handling was carried out through cross-ministerial coordination and task forces at the central level, including the deployment of heavy equipment and personnel, involvement of local governments and the community, as well as re-procurement of damaged school facilities.
“This is just one example of a school. There are many other schools, from elementary, middle and high schools, which are also affected. Therefore, everything must be calculated and handled well, including from the budget side,” said AHY.

He emphasized that at the direction of President Prabowo Subianto, the government is committed to restoring the Sumatra region, including Aceh Tamiang, so that it can recover and ensure that children do not lose access to education.
At the end of the visit, AHY advised the school and local community to work together to maintain and maintain the facilities that have been built and restored so that the education recovery process runs more quickly and optimally.
“We want to ensure that schools in Aceh Tamiang and other affected areas are completely restored, so that children can return to learning safely, comfortably and full of hope,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Principal of SMP Negeri 1 Karang Baru, Edy Wahyudi, explained that school activities have resumed since January 5 2026. However, the learning process is still being carried out in stages to adjust the condition of facilities and infrastructure after the flood.
Closing his visit, AHY expressed his appreciation to the teachers who continue to carry out their educational role despite limitations.
“Thank you to the teachers who are so noble. In the midst of a situation that is not easy, we are still trying to be a light in making the nation’s life smarter, especially for our children in Aceh Tamiang,” he concluded.

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