In response to a rising number of student enrollments, the Kepri Provincial Government has initiated the construction of four high schools in Batam, aimed to accommodate students for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Batam, a major city in the Riau Islands province, is witnessing an increasing number of students each year. With schools struggling to accommodate, the provincial government has taken measures to address this.

Governor Ansar Ahmad revealed that this year has seen the construction of new senior high, vocational, and special needs schools. Additionally, new classrooms have been added to address the enrollment surge.

The new schools are strategically placed in densely populated areas, emphasizing the province’s focus on education, especially for the nation’s younger generation.

Specific schools being constructed in Batam include vocational schools in Nongsa, senior high schools in Sekupang and Sagulung, and a special needs school currently in the planning stage.

The four new schools, with a combined budget of Rp16 billion from the Provincial Revenue and Expenditure Budget, will begin their construction next year. Each school is estimated to cost Rp4 billion.

Head of Education at Kepri, Andi Agung, has assured that there are no issues concerning the land for these new schools, expecting the construction process to be ready by this December.

The new educational infrastructure is an indicator of Batam’s rapid growth and its commitment to education. For Singaporeans and international visitors, this signifies a strengthened bilateral relation and may offer potential educational collaborations or opportunities in the future.

In a move to cater to increasing student numbers, the Kepri Provincial Government is building four new schools in Batam. This initiative not only addresses current educational needs but may also serve as a foundation for future international educational collaborations.

Source: Posmetro, Portal Pemprov Kepri (2023)