Jakarta, August 22, 2026 — The earthquake that has been rocking Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), since August 15, 2026, has had a significant impact on the continuity of education. A total of 1,378 educational institutions have been affected, forcing the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) to ensure that children can continue learning through various learning methods to ensure the safety of students and teachers during the emergency.
Currently, approximately 116,324 students are affected by the school closures. Following the NTT Provincial Government's policy, classes are being held from home and in evacuation centers to ensure the safety of students, as aftershocks continue and several buildings are at risk of collapse.
boh. Then, from the educational units that have reported learning conditions, as many as 923 educational units are implementing learning from home, 171 are implementing online learning, 35 schools are using emergency classes, and 30 schools are still implementing face-to-face learning.
To ensure continuity of learning, the Ministry of Education and Culture has issued an Emergency Learning Guide that provides flexibility in learning methods and materials, with an emphasis on essential materials, basic literacy and numeracy, and psychosocial support. Examples of its implementation are available on the Rumah Pendidikan website.
"In disaster situations, the safety and continuity of children's education must be a shared concern. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education continues to work with local governments and all partners to ensure children continue to receive educational services, even in emergencies. We want to ensure that limitations caused by disasters do not hinder children's right to learn and receive the support they need," said Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Atip Latipulhayat, in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) (August 21).
The Ministry of Education and Culture expressed its deepest condolences for the disaster, which claimed 72 lives, including three students and one teacher. The earthquake also damaged tens of thousands of homes and displaced more than 80,000 people, including approximately 38,000 schoolchildren.
According to data from the National Secretariat for Disaster-Safe Education Units (Seknas SPAB), as of August 20, 2026, 1,268 of the 1,378 affected educational units had reported their condition, or approximately 92 percent. The impacts covered seven districts, with 177,678 students and 21,166 teachers and education personnel.
Of the 8,664 classrooms recorded, 5,521, or 63.7 percent, were damaged, including 2,229 with severe or total damage. Damage also occurred to laboratories, libraries, sanitation facilities, and teachers' official residences. A total of 502 educational institutions were reported to have sustained severe damage.
Since August 16, 2026, a team from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has been in Labuan Bajo, traveling to several affected areas. Initial aid included 4,500 children's packages, basic food packages, 800 school kits , and 400 family kits. Aid has been distributed to several areas in West Manggarai, Manggarai, East Manggarai, and Ngada. Additional teams have also traveled to Ende, Nagekeo, and Sikka.
Furthermore, to support the recovery of learning activities, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is gradually preparing emergency classrooms for schools that have suffered severe damage. A total of 100 classroom tents are currently being distributed and are expected to be operational next week.
Support is also provided through psychosocial assistance for students and teachers in collaboration with the Psychology Association, the Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC), and university partners.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Education and Culture is preparing to distribute 5,000 school kits, 1,500 family kits, 6,238 pieces of furniture, 3,956 whiteboards, and 123,522 books. Assistance to local governments in implementing the emergency learning policy will continue until the policy ends on August 28, 2026.
Data collection on educational impacts and needs is conducted periodically through online forms and displayed openly through the BNPB data portal, so that developments in the condition of educational units can be monitored and become the basis for determining support.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikbud) is calling on all stakeholders to strengthen collaboration to accelerate the recovery of education services. Support is needed, especially to expedite the distribution of aid and support teachers and students in implementing emergency learning.*** (Author: Ririn/Photographer: Ikram)
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