Jakarta. Students at MI Al-Ikhtiar in West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, may soon be able to return to safe and proper classrooms after the Transmigration Ministry allocated Rp 200 million ($11,302) to accelerate repairs to the school damaged by the Aug. 15 earthquake.

Transmigration Minister M. Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara handed over the assistance during a visit to the madrasah on Thursday. The ministry also provided basic necessities to support the school community during the recovery period.

The earthquake left several walls cracked and caused parts of the school building to collapse, disrupting normal teaching and learning activities.

“Today, I would like to express my deepest sympathy and condolences over the earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara on Aug. 15, 2026. I have just visited a madrasah where part of the building collapsed as a result of the disaster,” Iftitah said.

He said restoring educational facilities should be a shared priority as it concerns the safety and future of children. The rehabilitation of the madrasah is expected not only to restore teaching and learning activities but also to bring back a sense of security for students, teachers and parents.

“After seeing the condition firsthand, we will provide Rp 200 million in assistance. Whatever we can do to help the community, we will do,” he said.

As MI Al-Ikhtiar falls under the Religious Affairs Ministry, the Transmigration Ministry is coordinating with the West Manggarai Religious Affairs Office to ensure that the rehabilitation meets the school’s needs and can be completed for the benefit of the school community as soon as possible.

Iftitah stressed that people should not be burdened by bureaucratic boundaries between government agencies when they need assistance. The government, he said, must work together to ensure aid reaches the right targets, avoids overlap and addresses needs that have yet to be met.

“What matters most to the people is not whether the assistance comes from the Public Works Ministry or the Transmigration Ministry. What matters is that the problem is solved and that the benefits are truly felt,” he said.

The Aug. 15 earthquake damaged not only MI Al-Ikhtiar but also affected several transmigration areas across East Nusa Tenggara. A total of 13 settlement units were affected in Maukaro, Ende; Mbai, Nagekeo; Bajawa, Ngada; as well as Komodo and Sano Nggoang in West Manggarai.

Overall, around 1,043 households were affected, while 1,536 homes sustained damage. During the emergency response period, the Transmigration Ministry distributed basic necessities. The government is now mapping rehabilitation needs for homes and public facilities to help affected communities resume their daily activities.

During the same visit, Iftitah also visited SDI Nanga Nae in West Manggarai, where he handed out shoes and panda dolls donated by Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Wang Lutong.

The shoes were provided after Iftitah found during an earlier visit that some students were still attending school without proper footwear. The assistance followed Ambassador Wang’s concern for the needs of children in West Manggarai.

“I brought something from the Chinese ambassador. He asked what kind of assistance would be most useful for the students here. I told him that shoes would be very beneficial for them,” Iftitah said.

The minister also encouraged students to study hard and pursue ambitious dreams. He urged them to equip themselves with skills relevant to the growing economic opportunities in West Manggarai, including foreign language skills.

According to Iftitah, the growth of tourism in Labuan Bajo should bring greater benefits to local communities. Foreign language skills, including Mandarin, could open opportunities for young people to work as tour guides or pursue careers in various sectors of the tourism industry.

“I see many Chinese tourists visiting Labuan Bajo. You can learn Mandarin so that one day you can become tour guides or work in the tourism industry. The opportunities growing in this region should also be enjoyed by local communities,” he said.

Through the assistance, the Transmigration Ministry hopes that teaching and learning activities at MI Al-Ikhtiar can soon return to normal. Coordination with ministries, government agencies and local authorities will continue to ensure that post-earthquake recovery goes beyond rebuilding damaged structures to restoring education, economic activities and community life.

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