Barabai, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - As many as 96 elementary schools (SD) in Central Hulu Sungai (HST) District, South Kalimantan, were threatened with closure due to shortage of students.
Head of Elementary School Development of the HST Education Office Fakhriady when confirmed said that in 2018 eight elementary schools had been closed then three more in 2019 due to lack of pupils.
He explained the Minister of Education and Culture Regulation (Permendikbud) No. 6 of 2021 concerning technical guidelines for School Operational Aid (BOS) fund requires schools to have at least 60 students for the last three years.
"Less than 60 students, schools will be closed because they cannot propose for BOS fund, but there are exceptions, such as schools in mountain areas or a maximum school distance of 3 km from an equivalent school," he expounded.
Currently, he said, a total of 96 SD, including private schools, in HST have less than 60 students.
In details, the Sub-district of Barabai 10 SD, Batang Alai Selatan 12 SD, Batang Alai Timur 5 SD, Batang Alai Utara 5 SD, Batu Benawa 3 SD, Hantakan 11 SD, Haruyan 13 SD, Labuan Amas Selatan 10 SD, Labuan Amas Utara 10 SD, Limpasu 3 SD, and Pandawan Sub-district 13 SD.
However, Fakhriady pointed out, this year the focus is on handling urban area, namely Barabai with 10 elementary schools with less than 60 students.
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The very sad situation was seen at the state elementary school (SDN) Bukat on Jalan Murakata downtown Barabai. The two storeys school is no more a favorite. Until 2022 it has the total students of only 31 with 6 PNS (civil servant) teachers and 3 non-PNS teachers.
The school, which used to be a magnificent and very representative, now looks unkempt while its yard puddled with water.
Head of Elementary School Development did not deny that SDN Bukat is threatened with closure, where several nearby schools are only 1.5 km away, namely SDN 2 Barabai Barat and MIN Bawan.
"We have made some efforts to boost the interest of residents in sending their children to school, including promoting religious and sports program, inter-school competitions. In addition, from the beginning new students are provided with free school supplies from books to uniforms," he said.
"We have also instructed all elementary school teachers to innovate and be creative in managing educational units with various interesting programs to attract people to send their children to school," he said.
