TAPANULI TENGAH – In a swift joint response to disaster recovery, the Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Wamendikdasmen), Prof. Atip Latipul Hayat, alongside the General Chairman of the Central Board of Persatuan Islam (PP Persis), K.H. Jeje Zainuddin, conducted an official working visit to Sorkam District, Central Tapanuli Regency (Tapteng). The high-level delegation delivered crucial aid while inaugurating emergency classroom facilities for students affected by recent severe flooding.
The working visit served as a breath of fresh air for local educators and students whose schooling was severely disrupted by natural disaster. Accompanied by members of the Regional Representative Council (DPD RI) and local officials, the delegation officially handed over seven newly constructed Emergency Classrooms (Ruang Kelas Darurat or RKD) at SMP Insani Sorkam, ensuring that teaching and learning activities could resume immediately.
“Our top priority is to guarantee that no child loses their fundamental right to education due to natural disasters,” emphasized Wamendikdasmen Prof. Atip during the inauguration ceremony. He commended the collaborative spirit between civil society organizations and the central government in accelerating disaster-recovery infrastructure across affected regions.
Echoing this sentiment, K.H. Jeje Zainuddin affirmed that PP Persis remains fully committed to supporting educational continuity in disaster zones. According to relief coordinators, while seven emergency classrooms are now fully operational in Sorkam, construction is actively underway for 18 additional emergency classrooms spread across other severely impacted areas, including Tukka District in Central Tapanuli, Langkat Regency, and Pasaman.
Local school administrators and community leaders expressed profound gratitude for the rapid intervention, noting that the temporary structures provide a safe and stable environment for children to rebuild their academic routine while permanent reconstruction plans are finalized.
The quick deployment of emergency classrooms in Central Tapanuli reflects a broader strategic initiative by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to establish resilient educational frameworks in disaster-prone provinces like North Sumatra. Coastal and riverbank schools across North Sumatra remain uniquely vulnerable to seasonal flash floods and landslides, which frequently cause severe structural damage to textbooks, digital devices, and physical facilities.
By partnering with established faith-based organizations like PP Persis, the government can leverage agile ground logistics and community networks to erect modular, safe learning hubs within days of a crisis. This emergency response framework minimizes extended school closures, preventing long-term learning loss among rural students.
Furthermore, education authorities are moving toward long-term rehabilitation plans that involve retrofitting flood-damaged schools with elevated foundations and storm-resistant materials. The multi-regency effort spanning Central Tapanuli, Langkat, and neighboring provinces highlights an integrated approach to disaster mitigation, ensuring that local school systems are far better prepared for future climate-related challenges.