NTT Museum Becomes Interactive 'Second Classroom' for Students

RRI.CO.ID, Kupang - The Regional Museum Unit under the Education and Culture Agency of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) has evolved from a mere repository of antiquities into an interactive second classroom for thousands of students.

This positive trend is driven largely by primary school pupils, who made up the largest visitor group in the first half of 2026 as they learn about ancestral cultural heritage firsthand.

“From January to June 2026 the museum recorded 5,320 visitors. We hope the number will continue to rise through the end of the year,” said Head of the Museum Unit, Meffiboset Bollu Eoh, during an interview in Kupang on Wednesday, 15 July 2026.

He said visits were dominated by students from early childhood through senior high school, totaling 2,261 visitors, with primary school pupils the largest subgroup at 1,170. The museum also welcomed 1,512 university students, 570 general visitors, and 617 foreign tourists.

“Specifically for this month, through 10 July 2026, visitor numbers reached 196 people,” he added, as quoted by Antara.

Meffiboset noted a positive trajectory over the past two years, which are 10,360 visitors in 2024, rising to 11,726 in 2025. He urged schools and universities to continue organizing visits to maximize the museum’s role as an educational center, source of inspiration, learning space, and a venue for research and cultural preservation.

He emphasized that the museum is not only a storage place for historical collections but also a learning space for students, researchers, and the public to explore regional cultural wealth. For that reason, he asked for media support to raise public awareness of the museum’s functions so more people will visit and use its educational services.

Meffiboset also said that, effective 15 June 2026, museum fees were adjusted under East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Regulation No. 1/2026. Previously, the entrance fee had been uniform for all categories at IDR 5,000 (USD 0.28) per person.

Under the new scale, students through university level remain charged IDR 5,000 per person, the general public is charged IDR 7,000 (USD 0.39), and foreign tourists IDR 10,000 (USD 0.55). He said the fees remain affordable and should not burden the public, particularly students who wish to use the museum as a learning resource.

Meffiboset added that the museum has several programs planned through the year-end, including a National Traditional Musical Instruments Exhibition scheduled for October 2026. The museum will also host a seminar on Manggarai woven textiles and other activities in November through early December as part of efforts to strengthen education and cultural preservation in NTT. ***