Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is improving the quality of vocational education through a revitalization program targeting 1,277 vocational high schools (SMKs) across Indonesia, funded by additional budget allocations for 2026.
Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Fajar Riza Ul Haq said the program aims to provide more adequate educational facilities, including practice rooms to support students in developing skills in their respective fields.
“Improving school facilities, whether through rehabilitation or physical construction, ultimately contributes to improving the quality of learning at schools,” Haq said in a written statement here on Friday.
Of the 1,277 vocational high schools receiving assistance, 553 are public schools and 724 are private schools, he said.
According to Haq, the assistance covers new construction, rehabilitation, renovation, furniture procurement, school environment improvements, and building repainting.
Facilities targeted for revitalization include classrooms, practice rooms, accessible toilets, and other facilities supporting the learning process.
Haq said adequate learning spaces and sanitation facilities also influence students’ comfort and motivation to learn.
He therefore urged schools to ensure the quality of revitalization work at every stage, from planning to completion, including by using materials that meet technical specifications to ensure the buildings remain usable over the long term.
He also reminded schools to maintain and care for the renovated facilities through regular maintenance in accordance with applicable school funding provisions.
Meanwhile, Director General of Secondary and Special Education Tatang Muttaqin said the ministry provides assistance to recipient schools to ensure that revitalization work is carried out in accordance with established mechanisms and regulations.
The assistance is provided through technical guidance for Phase 2 of the SMK revitalization program under the 2026 additional budget allocation. The guidance session was held from November 3 to 6, 2026, and attended by representatives of 519 prospective recipient schools from various provinces, Muttaqin said.
He explained that participants, comprising school principals, heads of planning teams, and technical officers, received guidance on planning, construction work, administration, and report preparation.
“The success of government assistance distribution is determined not only by the size of the budget but also by the readiness of educational institutions to implement and manage facilities and infrastructure in an orderly, careful, and accountable manner,” Muttaqin stressed.
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Translator: Hana, Kenzu
Editor: Primayanti
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