August 20, 2026 | 07:57 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) ensures that students' right to an education is upheld in the aftermath of the earthquake that struck several regions of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The safety of teachers and students is a priority in conducting learning activities in disaster-affected areas.
Minister Abdul Mu'ti stated that learning in affected areas will be adjusted according to the on-site conditions. The ministry has implemented an emergency learning system that uses an emergency curriculum. This system ensures that learning activities can continue without endangering the safety of the school community.
"The priority and commitment of Kemendikdasmen are the safety of teachers and students in disaster areas. Therefore, the conducted learning also takes into account the safety of teachers and students by using an emergency learning system with an emergency curriculum," said Abdul Mu'ti in Jakarta on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
The Education Ministry has also distributed aid to several affected areas. The ministry team arrived in Labuan Bajo and brought supplies to support students' continued learning.
The aid consists of 2,000 children's gift packages, 800 school kits, and 70 family kits. The aid is expected to help meet the needs of students and families during the learning process in emergency conditions.
In addition to logistical assistance, the ministry prepares guidelines for emergency learning through the Primary and Secondary Education Policy Agency (BKPDM).
The agency’s head Toni Toharudin stated that educational units, students, and teachers affected by the disaster in NTT are still receiving government attention. Support is provided to ensure that learning activities continue, despite limited facilities and on-site conditions.
"We ensure that they continue to receive support so that the learning process can continue and students' right to learn is fulfilled, even in conditions of great limitations," said Toni.
Emergency learning guidelines are prepared based on the level of damage, the availability of facilities, the conditions of students and teachers, and the environmental situation of the surrounding area. Schools are not required to apply the learning patterns used in normal conditions and are given flexibility to adjust learning methods.
Under these conditions, educational units can prioritize essential and relevant learning materials based on the needs of their students. Psychosocial support, self-safety, basic literacy and numeracy, as well as the restoration of learning routines, are important parts of the learning process.
Learning methods may include limited face-to-face meetings, independent learning, or other feasible methods, depending on the available conditions and resources.
The psychosocial aspect is also a concern in the recovery process. Disasters potentially have an emotional impact on students, teachers, and education staff. Therefore, schools are expected to become safe spaces that help the school community restore psychological conditions and build self-confidence.
To support the implementation of learning in the field, the Education Ministry provides examples of learning activities and materials that can be adjusted to post-disaster conditions. The materials are accessible to the public through the Education House website.
The ministry also invites local governments, educational agencies, school principals, teachers, and all education stakeholders in NTT to ensure that learning activities continue with a focus on safety, flexibility, and students' needs.
Based on data from the Disaster-Safe Education School (SPAB) as of August 19, 2026, a total of 512 educational units in seven affected districts. The impact includes 94,452 students and 8,755 teachers and education staff.
A total of 52,268 students from 276 educational units have been forced to take leave. For the time being, the learning process is conducted from their respective homes or at several evacuation points.
Read: NTT Earthquake: Why Does Indonesia Refuse Foreign Aid Offers?
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