Indonesian Vice President visits dilapidated school after teacher's Instagram comment

Desi Pradipta, a teacher at SDN 016 Serusa Parit Aman in Riau, Indonesia, experienced a moment of unexpected joy when her Instagram comment led to a direct visit from Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. The visit on Friday, July 17, 2026, has ignited new hope among teachers, students, and the local community for the urgent repair of their severely neglected school.

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I commented on Mr. [Gibran's] Instagram asking him to visit our school at SD 016 Serusa, and thankfully, Mr. [Gibran] responded, and today he visited our school.

Pradipta had commented on one of Gibran's Instagram posts, inviting him to witness the poor condition of SDN 016 Serusa, which she deemed unfit for learning. Her plea received a response, culminating in the Vice President's working visit. "I commented on Mr. [Gibran's] Instagram asking him to visit our school at SD 016 Serusa, and thankfully, Mr. [Gibran] responded, and today he visited our school," Pradipta shared.

Her presence brought a glimmer of hope for the school's rehabilitation, aiming to create a safer and more comfortable environment for teaching and learning. The school's deteriorating state is evident, with aging structures, a damaged field, and an unfenced swampy area posing risks. Gibran engaged with parents to understand their concerns.

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Hopefully, this school can also be repaired, that is our hope as teachers here, the children too.

One parent, Muhari Siregar, noted that the school, despite its age, has produced many alumni who contribute to the region and the nation. He highlighted the urgent need for repairs to the roof, ceiling, walls, and doors, describing the building as fragile and leaning, with inadequate facilities for activities and ceremonies. Gibran committed to assisting with the rehabilitation after observing the damage firsthand.

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This is an old school, so its alumni have contributed a lot to the village or the country.

During his visit, the Vice President also listened to the community's broader issues, particularly those faced by farmers and fishermen. Concerns included road infrastructure to agricultural lands, diesel fuel availability, and access to subsidized fertilizer. Gibran assured that these issues, including the difficulty in obtaining subsidized fertilizer, would be addressed. This visit serves as a follow-up to community aspirations raised via social media and part of the government's effort to directly assess educational facilities.

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The building is already fragile, the building is leaning, the field for extracurricular activities is difficult, the ceremony field is also difficult.