Jakarta – The government has reaffirmed its commitment to continuing to expand access to education through the People’s School (SR) program, despite implementing budget efficiency policies. This program remains a priority due to its direct impact on the community, particularly underprivileged groups.
Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi stated that budget efficiency is being implemented selectively by cutting spending deemed unproductive. He stated that this step aims to focus the budget on strategic programs with tangible benefits.
“We actually prefer to reduce what we previously mentioned, spending that we consider less productive,” said Prasetyo after attending a coordination meeting at the Ministry of Defense in Jakarta.
He explained that funds from ineffective items were then diverted to strengthen priority programs, such as People’s Schools and Free Nutritional Meals (MBG). This way, the state budget could be used more optimally to help ease the burden on the community.
“That’s what we’re then reallocating to prioritize productive programs, impactful programs, and programs that can help ease the burden on the community,” he explained.
This affirmation demonstrates the government’s continued emphasis on education as a key development focus. The People’s School Program is considered strategic because it opens access to education for children from underprivileged families while simultaneously improving the quality of human resources.
Previously, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto also confirmed that the government’s flagship programs would not be affected by budget efficiency. The government is currently formulating savings measures to keep the 2026 State Budget (APBN) deficit below 3 percent, without sacrificing priority programs.
According to Airlangga, there will be no budget cuts to programs that directly impact public welfare. This underscores the government’s commitment to maintaining the sustainability of strategic programs.
Through this policy, the government aims to ensure that every budget allocation truly delivers maximum benefits. It is hoped that the People’s School will continue to develop as a solution for equal education, while also becoming a concrete step towards improving community welfare through broader and higher-quality access to education.
