BLITAR – The Blitar city government has allocated about Rp900 million (around $58,000) for school classroom rehabilitation this year, targeting six public elementary schools with the most severe structural damage.

The funding comes from the municipal budget (APBD) and will repair classrooms across several districts in the city, known locally as the “Land of Bung Karno.” Authorities ranked schools by damage level, from light to severe, before selecting priority sites.

Syahbana Tahta Wijaya, head of elementary education development at the Blitar Education Office, said the city holds full responsibility for primary school facilities. “Local governments have full authority over elementary school classroom rehabilitation, so the funding comes from the municipal budget,” he said on Saturday.

Officials are prioritizing classrooms with damage exceeding 30 percent to ensure the funds address urgent needs. The program aims to provide safe and comfortable learning spaces so students can study without risk.

Schools must submit formal repair proposals to qualify for funding. The Education Office then verifies each request and assesses building conditions before approving rehabilitation budgets.

“Our priority is classrooms with more than 30 percent damage. Schools apply, and we evaluate and verify to ensure the funds reach the right targets,” Syahbana said.

City officials expect the rehabilitation work to improve safety, comfort, and learning motivation for students. The upgrades also aim to strengthen basic education infrastructure and support higher-quality schooling across Blitar.