By: Fitra Rizal*)
The People’s School (Sekolah Rakyat) is a government program aimed at ensuring access to quality education, specifically for children from poor and extremely poor families. President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that the People’s School is part of the government’s commitment to equitable access to education for Indonesian children. Furthermore, Presidential Instruction (Inpres) No. 8 of 2025 on the Eradication of Extreme Poverty identifies the People’s School as an integrated instrument to break the cycle of poverty in Indonesia.
In the context of educational equity, the People’s School plays a strategic role. In areas where formal education has not yet reached, or where children from underprivileged families cannot attend school due to financial constraints, the People’s School becomes a bridge of hope. There are no registration fees, uniforms, or monthly contributions that burden families. All that is needed is the willingness to learn and the spirit to grow together. With this inclusive principle, the People’s School creates a safe space for all, without discrimination.
The Governor of Lampung, Rahmat Mirzani Djausal, stated that his administration fully supports the People’s School. He also noted that the program serves as a strategic complement to breaking the poverty cycle by providing quality education to the underprivileged.
More than just an alternative educational space, the People’s School is fundamentally a long-term investment in human development. Children who grow up in an educational environment that values togetherness, simplicity, and compassion will develop strong character—not only academically intelligent but also morally resilient. They will become individuals who are socially aware and motivated to contribute to positive change in their communities.
Meanwhile, the Governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, stated that the People’s School is the state’s effort to ignite hope among underprivileged families through a free boarding school model. This program is also expected to have local economic impacts through a multiplier effect, beginning with the recruitment of educators, dormitory staff, and service providers.
Educators or teachers in the People’s School are recruited by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen), which has initiated large-scale teacher recruitment—including prioritizing civil servant teachers (ASN) and government-contracted teachers (PPPK). In the initial phase, 60,000 teachers will be prepared to teach at the People’s Schools. These teachers are not merely instructors; they are facilitators, motivators, and social movers who help raise educational awareness in the community. The government also guarantees their welfare to ensure the sustainability and quality of the program.
The reach and distribution of People’s Schools are evenly spread, with current locations found across various provinces such as Central Java, West Java, East Java, East Nusa Tenggara, Kalimantan, and Papua. To support this policy, local governments are providing land ranging from 5–10 hectares per school for construction. Each school is expected to require a construction budget of around IDR 100 billion. The government has allocated funding through the 2025 State Budget (APBN), in cooperation with local governments and strategic partners, to ensure smooth development and operations. This flexible approach allows for either revitalizing existing assets or constructing new facilities based on field readiness.
The social and educational benefits provided to students include tuition, uniforms, stationery, and daily necessities—ensuring that no child is hindered by financial constraints from the outset. Additionally, the boarding school model offers an intensive learning environment free from distractions, giving children from remote areas or highly under-resourced communities a fair and optimal opportunity to learn. With a curriculum that integrates life skills, graduates are expected to become productive and self-reliant, enabling them to escape their families’ cycles of poverty.
Educational equity through the People’s School also ensures that children from extremely poor families receive proper and free education, no longer victims of economic limitations. Character building and life skills are taught alongside academic curricula, with leadership and vocational training equipping graduates to face the real world.
Moreover, synergy between the central and local governments—through collaboration involving the State Budget (APBN), regional governments, universities, and local communities—lays a strong foundation for a broad and sustainable program. This initiative is part of the government’s efforts to break the cycle of poverty by offering quality education and providing a tangible stepping stone for economically disadvantaged children to access better opportunities in the future.
The People’s School program is not merely an educational initiative, but an integrative government strategy to end poverty and develop a competitive, high-quality generation. I express my full support for this program as a tangible manifestation of the state’s presence for the children who need it most. With transparent implementation, inclusivity, and a multi-stakeholder synergy model, the People’s School will become a legacy of strategic policy capable of elevating the dignity of the Indonesian people equally.
*) The author is a Public Policy Analyst