Jakarta – The Indonesian government continues to demonstrate its commitment to equitable education, particularly for children in the 3T (disadvantaged, frontier, and outermost) regions and transmigration areas. The Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Transmigration have officially collaborated to prepare for the construction of a People’s School, targeted for operation in early 2026.
Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf, or more familiarly known as Gus Ipul, emphasized that this initiative is a new hope for equal access to education in areas that have previously been less accessible.
“We are currently conducting in-depth research and identification to ensure this program runs optimally. The People’s School will be a strategy to strengthen education and ensure equitable development in underdeveloped areas,” he said in an official statement after receiving a working visit from Transmigration Minister M. Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara.
Gus Ipul highlighted data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) which recorded that more than 3 million school-age children in Indonesia have not received an education, are not in school, or are at risk of dropping out of school, including in the 3T regions.
“These children are often unheard and unseen. The President has mandated that we turn to them and ensure that no one is left behind in their right to education,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Transmigration Minister M. Iftitah expressed his full support for the program. He stated that his ministry would immediately identify initial implementation locations in various transmigration areas. Several priority areas that have entered the preparation stage include East Nusa Tenggara and Papua.
Iftitah added that the development of transmigration areas is currently geared towards creating centers of economic growth and employment. Within this framework, education is a key pillar for local communities to become self-sufficient and develop sustainably.
“With adequate education, local people will have the skills and insights that open up opportunities for advancement,” he explained.
The People’s School is a priority program of President Prabowo Subianto, targeting children from poor and extremely poor families who lack access to formal education. The program also caters to children in Deciles 1 and 2 in the National Socioeconomic Single Data (DTSEN).
Through cross-ministerial synergy, the government hopes that the People’s School will become a platform for developing a generation of intelligent, empowered, and characterful students. With a focus on educational quality and equitable access, this initiative is expected to mark a new milestone in building national independence while simultaneously reducing disparities between regions.
