TULUNGAGUNG – The Tulungagung Rakyat School project is moving closer to construction as the proposed land in Ringinpitu Village enters the verification stage under the Ministry of Public Works.
Local authorities plan to build a permanent Rakyat School in Kedungwaru District to expand access to education in the region. The project has become part of East Java’s wider effort to develop new public education facilities.
East Java Social Affairs Agency head Restu Novi Widiani said Tulungagung does not yet have a pilot Rakyat School program. Because of that, the regency plans to move directly into permanent construction instead of using temporary classrooms.
“Tulungagung has no pilot project yet, so the government plans to build a permanent school from the start,” Restu said during her visit to Pendapa Kongas Arum Kusumaning Bangsa on Thursday.
The Tulungagung administration has already submitted the proposed land to the central government. Officials from the Ministry of Public Works are now reviewing the site before issuing final approval.
“The proposal has reached the verification stage at the ministry level. We are still waiting for the official decision,” she explained.
Restu said she remains optimistic about the project because the administrative process has already moved to the national level. She hopes the ministry will approve the proposal soon so construction can begin next year.
If the process stays on schedule, the Rakyat School could start operating in the next academic year.
The government has proposed only one location for the project. The site sits in Ringinpitu Village, Kedungwaru District, near the local low-cost apartment complex.
Across East Java, the Ministry of Public Works has verified 19 permanent Rakyat School locations. Construction has already started at 18 sites in different regions.
Restu said construction progress varies from one region to another. In Sampang, workers have completed around 55 percent of the project, and officials expect the school to open during the upcoming school year.
The permanent Rakyat School campus in Tulungagung could accommodate up to 1,000 students. Officials believe the project will strengthen access to education and support local communities.
Restu also highlighted several challenges in the development process. Land readiness remains the biggest obstacle because the central government requires large and legally clear locations.
“The land must meet several requirements. It cannot involve ownership disputes, and it must have proper road access,” she said.
Authorities also prohibit developers from using productive farmland for the project.
The Tulungagung administration still needs approval from the Brantas River Basin Agency because the planned site lies near a river area. The project also requires bridge access before construction can begin fully.