By: Rinanda Utami )*
The government began operating 100 locations of the People’s School in July 2025 as part of its commitment to expanding access to education for children from poor and extremely poor families. A total of 9,755 students are registered to participate in boarding school learning that is fully facilitated by the state. This step is a concrete answer to the challenges of equalizing education and poverty which are still national homework.
The People’s School Program is a strategic initiative of President Prabowo Subianto designed to target children who have been left behind in the formal education system. The Ministry of Social Affairs was appointed as the main implementer with support from various ministries, local governments, and related institutions. In the initial stage, 100 schools began operating simultaneously, with a boarding system covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf explained that the People’s School was specifically designed to be an inclusive and transformative educational institution. Children not only attend formal learning during the day, but also attend character building, leadership training, and life skills at night. He ensured that every student would receive facilities equivalent to a leading school, from housing, food, learning equipment, to access to technology.
To ensure targeting accuracy, the government uses the National Socioeconomic Single Data (DTSEN) in student recruitment. Prospective participants are strictly selected through coordination between PKH facilitators, social and education services, BPS, and local governments. Students from the Decile 1 category or families in extreme poverty are the main priority. However, the selection system remains flexible, allowing children from similar backgrounds to be accepted after the verification process.
In terms of human resources, the Ministry of Social Affairs has prepared more than 1,500 teachers and 3,300 education personnel to support school operations. The teachers involved are professionals recruited through the Government Employees with Work Agreement (PPPK) mechanism, while the principals come from civil servants. Human resource management is carried out collaboratively with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of PAN-RB, and the State Civil Service Agency to ensure the quality of teaching and school management.
The government also collaborates with the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection and the Indonesian Child Protection Commission to ensure the protection of students while in the dormitory environment. The three main things that are of concern are the prevention of bullying, sexual violence, and intolerance. The People’s School is not only a place to learn, but also a safe and comfortable environment for children to grow and develop.
Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo also said that his ministry is directly involved in the planning, design and construction of public school buildings. The Ministry of Public Works is working with the Ministry of Social Affairs to prepare decent physical facilities that meet modern education standards. Currently, the design stage is being finalized with related agencies, with a focus on space efficiency, student comfort, and the sustainability of building functions after the pilot stage is completed.
The distribution of the first phase of the People’s School locations covers almost all of Indonesia, with 48 points on Java Island, 22 in Sumatra, 15 in Sulawesi, and additional locations in Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Kalimantan, Maluku, and Papua. A total of 395 study groups have been prepared to support teaching and learning activities. The government also ensures that temporary buildings used in the initial phase will be optimally converted after completion of use, such as becoming a halfway house or social service center.
In addition to the first phase, the government is also preparing 100 additional locations for the second phase which is targeted to start simultaneously. This advanced phase will involve around 10,600 new students, 2,180 teachers, and more than 4,000 education personnel. Most of the additional locations will utilize the 122 Job Training Centers owned by the Ministry of Manpower and facilities owned by local governments.
The People’s School Program also received serious attention from the legislature. Member of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Abdul Fikri Faqih, said that education is the most powerful instrument to break the chain of poverty. He expressed his readiness to oversee the implementation of the program so that it is right on target and does not repeat the failure of the previous social assistance approach. The legislator from the Central Java IX electoral district emphasized the importance of focusing on character building, entrepreneurship, and leadership, not just providing material assistance.
As a form of full commitment, the government has also prepared eight hectares of land in Brebes for the construction of long-term public schools. This step reflects a different approach taken in the poverty alleviation program. The government does not provide direct assistance in the form of cash, but rather provides the means to build an independent future through education.
Sekolah Rakyat is present as a new face of Indonesian education, which places children from the poorest families as the main priority. This program marks a paradigm shift in the provision of education services, from an exclusive to an inclusive system. The government not only promises free education, but also creates a learning ecosystem that supports the future of the nation’s children.
With the launch of the first 100 schools, the government has demonstrated a strong and targeted initial step. The Sekolah Rakyat program is not only a symbol of social concern, but also proof that the state is present in the lives of its most vulnerable people. With support from across ministries, the legislature, and the community, inclusive education is now moving from concept to reality.
)* Public Policy Observer