RRI.CO.ID, Sintang - The Sintang Regency Administration in West Kalimantan has officially backed the launch of the Sekolah Budaya Kain Pantang (Pantang Fabric Cultural School), a specialized initiative designed to save the region's iconic weaving tradition from the brink of extinction. Launched on Saturday, March 7, 2026, the program marks a mechanical shift in cultural preservation by integrating traditional craftsmanship into the formal education system.

The school operates as an extracurricular collaboration between master Pantang fabric artisans and several junior and senior high schools throughout Sintang. Its primary mission is to transplant the intricate skills of traditional weaving into the hands of the younger generation.

The urgency of the project stems from a significant demographic gap in the local weaving industry. Head of the Sintang Regency's Industry, Trade, Cooperatives, and SMEs Agency (Disperindagkop & UKM), Subendi, noted that the current guardians of the craft are predominantly elderly, making immediate intervention a structural necessity for the tradition's survival.

“We are grateful that this Pantang Fabric Cultural School could be formed. I used to be a subdistrict head in Umin, and many of the weavers there were already old. Therefore, we need to pass on this cultural school, we need to bequeath it to our children,” Subendi explained during the launch.

Beyond vocational training, the program aims to foster a deep sense of cultural ownership. By targeting students who show a genuine affinity for local heritage, the regency hopes to ensure that Pantang fabric remains a living, breathing symbol of Sintang’s identity rather than a museum relic.

“We want this skill to be passed on to children who are truly interested, who understand the importance of maintaining our culture and identity, so that it remains the identity of the Sintang community,” Subendi added.

The administration’s long-term vision is to build a sustainable "weaving ecosystem" where the production of Kain Pantang provides both cultural pride and economic opportunities for the new generation of weavers. (Naura Sofia/Bambang MBKA)