Indonesia’s School Revitalization Spurs Jobs, Local Growth

RRI.CO.ID, Sorong - Indonesia’s school revitalization program is projected to create hundreds of thousands of jobs while boosting local economies through community-based development projects nationwide.

Minister of Elementary and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu’ti, said the government is targeting the revitalization of 71,744 educational units by 2026 through a self-management scheme that actively involves schools and local communities.

“Implementing self-management makes this program more effective, faster, and more economical, while improving the quality of the buildings,” he said during a visit to Sorong City on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Minister Mu’ti explained that each school revitalization project typically requires around 10 construction workers, giving the program significant potential to absorb local labor.

If the 71,744-school target is achieved by 2026, the initiative could employ about 710,000 workers nationwide. The revitalization of 16,167 schools scheduled for 2025 alone is expected to create around 250,000 jobs.

He emphasized that the program would also stimulate local economies, as construction materials and other needs are sourced from nearby communities.

“This program encourages local economic growth because people are involved in the work and purchase goods for development from local shops and resources,” he said.

The government hopes the initiative will not only improve educational infrastructure but also strengthen regional economies through broader community participation.

Alongside revitalization, the ministry continues to expand its digitalization program, particularly in Papua and underdeveloped frontier and outermost (3T) regions. Minister Mu’ti noted that digital interactive whiteboards have reached remote schools in Papua, with deliveries even made by boat to hard-to-reach areas.

“This proves that digitalization efforts in education can succeed with support from various parties,” he said.

During his visit, Minister Mu’ti, Southwest Papua Governor Elisa Kambu, and Sorong Mayor Septinus Lobat inaugurated schools that received revitalization assistance in 2025 and handed over support for 2026.

He also observed teaching using digital interactive boards at state-run vocational high school SMK Negeri 1 Sorong City and discussed with teachers how technology can enhance learning.

According to Minister Mu’ti, digital devices motivate students and support more interactive lessons. He stressed that the revitalization program is strictly monitored through reporting systems, consultant assistance, and financial audits to ensure transparency and accountability.

For the 2025 program, Sorong Regency received assistance for 15 schools with a total budget of IDR 22.67 billion, while Sorong City received funds for 12 schools totaling IDR 4.94 billion. For 2026, Sorong Regency allocated funds for 34 schools worth IDR 16.59 billion, and Sorong City for five schools totaling IDR 3.65 billion. ***