Improving education in West Nias requires cooperation among all parties
The Deputy Governor of North Sumatra, Surya, emphasized that improving the quality of education in the West Nias Regency requires cooperation and commitment from all parties.
According to him, unity is the key to accelerating educational development in the Nias Islands, which still face various limitations.
LATEST NEWS: Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra upgraded with new 200MP and 50MP ultra-wide cameras
Surya conveyed this message during a visit to SMAN 1 Mandrehe in the West Nias Regency on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
In the presence of the principal, teachers, and students, Surya called upon the local government, school principals, educators, and all stakeholders to work together towards quality and equitable education.
Surya noted that improving education quality in areas still considered underdeveloped requires broad support. Therefore, improving education cannot be the exclusive responsibility of a single party but must be tackled collectively.
“We must work together on these goals so that our shared aspirations can be realized,” said Surya.
LATEST NEWS: 46,160 participants begin internship program (Batch II, Batch 1)
Surya also advised teachers to carry out their teaching duties with sincerity and integrity and to serve as role models for their students.
According to him, teachers are not only responsible for imparting knowledge but also act as parents and educators, shaping the character of children.
“Educate our children with sincerity and integrity and be an example to them. We act as parents and educators,” he explained.
He also emphasized the distinction between practicing the teaching profession and being an educator. An educator, he said, must understand that every child possesses different talents; therefore, the learning process cannot be conducted by generalizing the talents of all students.
“For instance, among the 32 children we teach, not all 32 share the same talents. Educators cannot treat all children’s talents in the exact same way,” Surya said.
Surya further stated that knowledge is the most valuable asset, as it is never lost—even when shared with others.
He therefore encouraged all teachers—whether civil servants, PPPK staff, part-time teachers, or temporary staff—to always carry out their noble task as educators with sincerity.
According to Surya, a teacher’s dedication should not be measured solely by the teaching materials they receive. Sincerity in teaching and imparting knowledge to the younger generation is a crucial part of building the region’s future.
LATEST NEWS: Three Development Priorities for the Nias Islands
Meanwhile, the Regent of West Nias, Eliyunus Waruwu, stated that there are currently 31 high schools (SMA/SMK) and special education schools (SLB) in his region. However, one of the obstacles is the limited number of school supervisors.
“This also affects the quality of education across these schools. Without affirmative action, we have little chance of getting into state universities; and even when we do, the numbers are small. Consequently, our Human Development Index (HDI) remains at 66.05 points. This is still far below the average for North Sumatra. The Nias Islands region has the lowest HDI in our area,” the Regent said.
Eliyunus also expressed his appreciation to the North Sumatra provincial government for the various development programs it has implemented in West Nias.
He hopes that the development and improvement of educational facilities will enhance the students’ skills, enabling them to compete with students from other regions.
LATEST NEWS: The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra gets upgrades with new 200MP and 50MP ultra-wide cameras
During the visit, Surya also inspected the progress of classroom construction at SMAN 1 Mandrehe. He also observed the electronic identity card (KTP) registration process for students at SMAN 1 Mandrehe, as part of an effort to ensure they possess the proper civil registration documents. ***rel
