BLITAR – KDMP Tlogo project will proceed after the Blitar regent approved plans to build the village cooperative inside SDN Tlogo 02, despite earlier objections from lawmakers.
Village officials in Tlogo initiated the Koperasi Desa Merah Putih (KDMP) and plan to use three rooms within the elementary school complex in Kanigoro, Blitar Regency, East Java. The proposal initially drew criticism from both the executive and legislative branches. However, the policy direction has now changed.
A teacher at SDN Tlogo 02 said the school community once believed the government had rejected the plan. That decision gave staff and students a sense of relief.
“We received information that Regent Rijanto has approved the establishment of KDMP at our school. The regional leadership will later explain the reason behind the decision,” the teacher said on Tuesday (March 4).
The teacher admitted that staff feel disappointed. Still, they must follow instructions from the regional administration. The regent has ordered the local education office to move forward with the plan.
“We are disappointed, but the decision comes from above. We can only comply,” the teacher added.
Local lawmakers continue to reject the KDMP Tlogo plan at the school site.
Sugeng Suroso, chairman of Commission IV of the Blitar Regency Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), said the legislature has consistently urged village officials to find another location.
“From the beginning, we asked them to look for an alternative site. A school represents an investment in the future, not just an economic interest,” said Sugeng, a politician from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP).
He warned that authorities should not sacrifice educational facilities for economic programs. If the executive branch insists on building the cooperative there, he urged them to take responsibility.
Sugeng asked the regional government to construct new rooms to replace those affected by the project. The plan will remove the principal’s office, the library, and a practice room.
“If they build the cooperative there, they must replace the demolished rooms,” he said.
The school library stores thousands of books. Students need proper space to read and study. Without replacement facilities, learning activities could suffer.
“They must prepare substitute rooms first if they continue the KDMP Tlogo project,” Sugeng added.
The KDMP Tlogo case underscores growing tension between local economic initiatives and the protection of school infrastructure. Village cooperatives aim to strengthen rural economies. However, critics argue that development should not disrupt education.
For now, SDN Tlogo 02 awaits further clarification from the regent’s office. The school community hopes authorities will protect students’ learning space while pursuing economic programs.