By: Fikri Maulana Hakim )*
The government continues to emphasize that national development is measured not only by macroeconomic achievements, but also by the extent to which the state is able to guarantee a decent quality of life for all citizens. Within this framework, access to education is a key foundation, particularly for groups living in vulnerable areas, including those affected by disasters.
President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that Indonesia’s development is oriented towards achieving a progressive and modern lifestyle, where all citizens experience a tangible improvement in their quality of life. This quality of life includes meeting basic needs such as nutritious food, healthcare, adequate education, and adequate income.
In the context of human resource development, the President has positioned the People’s School program as a key breakthrough. This program is designed to reach children from the most vulnerable families through integrated boarding school education, while also representing a concrete step by the state to break the chain of structural poverty.
People’s Schools are positioned not simply as educational institutions, but as instruments of social recovery and protection. This approach becomes increasingly relevant in disaster-affected areas, where infrastructure damage, family economic disruption, and psychological distress often deprive children of access to sustainable education.
The President explained that the pilot People’s Schools are currently operating in 166 locations across 131 regencies and cities in 34 provinces. This coverage demonstrates the government’s commitment to reaching highly vulnerable areas, including disaster-prone areas across Indonesia’s islands.
The government is targeting a gradual expansion of People’s Schools to 500 by 2029, with a capacity of approximately 500,000 children from the most vulnerable families. This target requires close collaboration between the central and regional governments, particularly in land provision, basic service support, and strengthening the social ecosystem around schools.
Efforts to provide access to education in disaster-affected areas are also reflected in the Ministry of Public Works’ steps to accelerate the construction of Phase II of Public Schools in Aceh Province. Minister of Public Works, Dody Hanggodo, emphasized that school construction is an integral part of the post-disaster recovery process, as education determines the long-term future of the community.
According to Dody, the government cannot simply rebuild basic infrastructure such as roads and bridges. The state must also ensure that children in disaster-affected areas can return to learning in safe, appropriate, and high-quality spaces. Therefore, People’s Schools are seen as a strategic instrument for breaking the cycle of poverty that is often exacerbated by natural disasters.
The construction of Phase II of the People’s School in Aceh is being carried out through two large packages with a contract value of approximately Rp1.53 trillion and will begin in late 2025. This project is designed with a 240-calendar-day implementation period as a demonstration of the government’s seriousness in ensuring the acceleration of education recovery.
The Minister of Public Works emphasized that accelerated development is not merely an administrative requirement, but rather a moral commitment by the state to ensure that Aceh’s children do not lose any more learning time. The schools being built are intended to be integrated educational areas, not simply conventional buildings.
Each People’s School is equipped with student and teacher dormitories, skills laboratories, technology-based classrooms, a modern library, a digital learning center, and health and sports facilities. This approach demonstrates that the government is not only prioritizing the quantity of buildings but also the quality of learning environments that support children’s holistic development.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Affairs is also actively involved in expanding the provision of People’s Schools in various regions. Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf welcomed the enthusiasm of several regional heads who expressed their readiness to establish People’s Schools in their respective areas, including those with social and geographical vulnerabilities.
The Minister of Social Affairs urged local governments to immediately prepare land or buildings that meet the requirements, emphasizing that proposed locations must have clear land titles and not be disputed. He stated that land readiness is a determining factor in accelerating the construction of permanent schools.
The Minister of Social Affairs emphasized that the sooner land preparation is achieved, the sooner the community will experience the presence of the People’s School. He stated that this program represents a miniature poverty alleviation program because interventions are carried out simultaneously on both children and parents.
Children from families in deciles one and two, based on the National Socioeconomic Single Data, are fully schooled, while their parents are empowered through various social and economic programs. This approach ensures that the impact of the People’s School extends beyond children’s education to enhancing family resilience.
In strengthening governance, the Minister of Social Affairs reiterated the importance of strict oversight in the outreach process for prospective students. The central and regional governments are seen as having a shared responsibility to ensure there are no fraudulent practices that undermine the program’s objectives.
Through the People’s School, the government demonstrates that its presence in disaster-affected areas is not temporary. Education serves as a gateway to long-term recovery and ensures that children living in the most difficult conditions still have a fair chance to build a better future.
) *The author is a contributor to Jeka Media
