RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The government’s efforts to improve the quality of education in frontier, outermost, and underdeveloped (3T) regions are beginning to show results in North Nias Regency, North Sumatra. Through school revitalization, schools that previously lacked facilities are becoming more conducive to learning.

These improvements were evident when Minister of Elementary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti reviewed the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, the use of interactive flat panels (IFPs), and the progress of school revitalization at state-run secondary high school SMP Negeri 1 Sitolu Ori and SMP Negeri 3 Sitolu Ori.

As quoted from the ministry’s official website, Minister Mu’ti said the government’s education transformation focuses not only on physical development but also on improving the quality of daily educational services.

“At SMP Negeri 1 Sitolu Ori, we saw firsthand how the MBG program has been received by students. They appeared more energetic and enthusiastic during lessons,” Minister Mu’ti said.

SMP Negeri 1 Sitolu Ori, which has 154 students, now benefits from Starlink satellite-based internet access, digital interactive boards, and electricity, enabling technology-based learning.

The school also received support for laboratory construction, administrative room rehabilitation, and renovation of three previously dilapidated classrooms. These facilities provide students with modern learning opportunities and a safer, more comfortable environment.

Meanwhile, SMP Negeri 3 Sitolu Ori, with 176 students, served as the groundbreaking site for the 2026 school revitalization program. The initiative will build new classrooms, rehabilitate learning spaces, and improve the school layout to better support teaching and learning.

Teachers have also felt the positive impact. Miteria Gea, a teacher at SMP Negeri 1 Sitolu Ori, said the MBG program has improved students’ health and enthusiasm for learning. “The children are very happy with the MBG program. They come to school eagerly, and we’ve noticed they get sick less often and study with more energy,” she said.

Similarly, Intan Marshaulena, a social studies teacher at SMP Negeri 3 Sitolu Ori, noted that the MBG program has been particularly beneficial for schools in 3T regions, helping improve students’ health and readiness to learn.

For students, the revitalization program brings new hope. Jenny Anjelina Ziliwu, an eighth-grader at SMP Negeri 3 Sitolu Ori, said the previous school building's condition had hindered learning. “We hope this school can be improved so that our friends and future students can learn better,” she said.

During the same visit, Minister Mu’ti, North Nias Regent Amizaro Waruwu, and House of Representatives Commission X lawmaker Sabam Sinaga inaugurated and launched the School Revitalization Program in North Nias Regency.

A total of 33 educational institutions were revitalized in 2025, while 21 others have been designated as recipients of revitalization assistance through cooperation agreements for 2026.

The School Revitalization Program, Free Nutritious Meals initiative, and Digital Learning scheme are part of the government’s broader effort to deliver equitable, high-quality education across Indonesia’s 3T regions. By integrating infrastructure, health, and technology, the transformation of education in North Nias is beginning to make a tangible impact on the future of its younger generation. ***