President Prabowo Forms Bridge Emergency Task Force to Ensure Students’ Safe Access to Schools
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: President Prabowo Subianto has announced the establishment of a Bridge Emergency Task Force as an accelerated initiative to guarantee safe and reliable access for students traveling to school, particularly in remote regions across Indonesia.
Speaking at the commemoration of National Teachers Day 2025 on Friday (November 28), President Prabowo expressed deep concern over the challenges still faced by many students who are forced to cross rivers and unsafe pathways due to inadequate infrastructure.
“There are small bridges, some are crossing bridges. We are currently designing these, my children. Please be patient, I am working on it. Hopefully, all the bridges will be built next year,” the president assured.
The formation of the task force comes in response to increasing public reports highlighting limited road and bridge infrastructure in remote and isolated areas. President Prabowo emphasized that bridging these gaps is a core government priority to support educational advancement and ensure equal opportunities for all students.
According to the president, Indonesia currently requires around 300,000 bridges to meet national accessibility needs. To help achieve this ambitious target, he has instructed Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto to mobilize civil engineering personnel across the country to contribute to the large-scale construction effort.
President Prabowo also underscored the crucial role of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police (Polri) in supporting the mission. Engineering battalions and Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob) units will be deployed to assist communities in building essential bridge structures.
“Deploy Engineering battalions to assist. I also ask the police to get their hands on, including Brimob, to assist the people. Addressing this bridge problem is a priority because I do not want children risking their lives every day to go to school,” he stated.
He further stressed that the initiative would bypass lengthy bureaucratic procedures such as feasibility studies and seminars, noting that urgent action is required.
“We are not talking about feasibility studies or seminars; it takes too long. Our children really need it, and we have to respond,” President Prabowo affirmed.
The Bridge Emergency Task Force is expected to begin immediate operations, with a nationwide goal of significantly improving safe access to education by next year.
