Social Affairs Minister Distributes 3 Boats for Children Transportation to School in Batam

BATAM (20 October 2023) – Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini handed over 3 units of boat aid for children's transportation to school in 3 islands around Batam City, Riau Islands Province, on Friday (20/10/2023). Those islands are Bertam Island, Lingka Island, and Gara Island, located in the west of Batam Island.

This aid is following up on the resident's request to the Minister while visiting Bertam Island in June 2022. At that time, the people talked to the Minister about the difficulty of children while they go to school because of the limitation of transportation.

Batam City borders the Singapura waterline, and it has 329 big and small islands, including those 3 islands. Children from those islands have to use marine transportation to go to school.

"This request has been completed. Now, there is no reason for the children not to go to school. If we want to develop, they have to study at school, and go to higher education," said the Minister after giving support and distributing the boats in Bertam Island on Friday (20/10).

To reach Bertam Island, the Minister and her team used a speed boat from Sekupang Harbour, Batam City. It's up to 30 minutes; the ship arrives on Bertam Island.

During this time, elementary students who live in Lingka Island and Gara Island have to cross Bertam Island to go to State Elementary School 06 Local, which is far from Belakang Padang Subdistricts. This school is the only school that is available in these 3 islands.

However, middle and high school students have to cross further to Kasu Island or Batuaji Island, that still included in the Belakang Padang Subdistrict area, Batam City, to go to the school.

Minister said the boat that was made in Surabaya comes with various navigation and security systems to protect the children. The boat, with 12 meters in length and 20 persons capacity, has a feasibility certificate from the Ministry of Transportation; therefore, it can be used directly.

Batam Regent Muhammad Rudi Harahap, who was present at this event, appreciates the aid from the Ministry of Social Affairs. "Minister presence, for the second time in here Bertam Island, is proof of the commitment of MoSA in helping our residents here. I'm very thankful, with this boat, children can be easier to reach their school," he said.

Meanwhile, Belakang Padang Sub-district head Yudi Atmadja said this boat will be used for transportation for 67 elementary students and 28 middle and higher students for going to school. "This boat will support the children to get a higher education," said Yudi.