By: Bara Winatha )*
The People’s School (SR) program is a significant government initiative to expand access to education for children from poor and extremely poor families. The presence of People’s Schools is positioned as a social safety net in the education sector, expected to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty. This program not only targets physical school construction but also emphasizes clean governance, objective selection, and integration with the national social protection system.
Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf stated that the Ministry is currently finalizing the selection process for People’s School participants for 2026, targeting up to 30,000 students across Indonesia. He explained that achieving this capacity depends heavily on the completion of the permanent School buildings, which are being expedited in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works. Each building is designed to accommodate approximately 300 students, divided evenly across three levels of education: elementary, middle, and high school.
Saifullah emphasized that this program is specifically intended for children from extremely poor families in decile 1 and decile 2. Therefore, data accuracy and the integrity of the selection process are key. Meanwhile, President Prabowo Subianto has issued strict instructions that all selection stages be conducted objectively, transparently, and free from unhealthy practices. There should be no bribes, bribery, or bribery in the process of selecting prospective students, as these would undermine the program’s primary objectives.
The SR selection process involves multiple agencies, including the Social Services Agency, the Primary and Secondary Education Agency, and the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). This multi-stakeholder involvement ensures that the data on prospective beneficiaries is accurate and accountable. The final selection of prospective students also requires the approval of the regional head, ensuring a multi-layered control mechanism.
The government is not only preparing school buildings but also supporting human resources, such as teaching staff, administrative staff, and a special team to oversee the selection process. With this approach, the People’s School is expected to provide quality and equitable educational services. For the government, the success of the People’s School is not solely measured by the number of students enrolled, but by the extent to which the program truly targets children most in need.
Public awareness of the importance of selection without favors, bribes, and bribery is integral to the program’s success. The public needs to understand that any form of unauthorized intervention in the selection process will actually disadvantage children from extremely poor families, who should be prioritized. In other words, maintaining the integrity of the People’s School selection process is tantamount to safeguarding the rights of the most vulnerable children to a decent education.
Atalia Praratya, a member of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), stated that the People’s School Program is a highly strategic state initiative to open access to education for children from poor and extremely poor families. She believes this program has great potential to become a social safety net, ensuring that no child is hindered from learning simply because of economic constraints. However, the program’s success is largely determined by its targeted effectiveness, the quality of its support, and its integration with other social protection services.
According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data for early 2025, the poverty rate in East Nusa Tenggara remains well above the national average. This situation reinforces the urgency of affirmative action programs such as the People’s School. Atalia also emphasized the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration and cross-sector synergy between the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), local governments, communities, and schools.
Deputy Minister of Social Affairs Agus Jabo stated that the National Single Social and Economic Data (DTSEN) plays a crucial role in ensuring that all poverty alleviation programs, including the People’s School, are on target. The DTSEN, managed by the Statistics Indonesia (BPS) and updated through the Ministry of Social Affairs, serves as the sole source of data for various ministry and agency programs. Dynamic data updates are considered crucial to avoid data fragmentation and potential mistargeting.
According to Agus, the People’s School is a miniature integrated poverty alleviation program. Children enrolled in the People’s School are those from deciles 1–2 of the National Education System (DTSEN). Not only is education free, but parents also have the potential to receive business assistance or renovate uninhabitable homes if assessments indicate a need. The ultimate goal is to improve the overall quality of life of beneficiary families. The People’s School program demonstrates the state’s presence through a fair and integrated system.
The People’s School reflects the government’s commitment to realizing inclusive and equitable education. Public awareness about the importance of selection without favors, bribes, and bribery needs to be continuously strengthened to ensure the public monitors the program’s implementation. With support from all parties, the People’s School is expected to become a gateway for children from poor and extremely poor families to achieve a better future, while also serving as a strong foundation for national poverty alleviation efforts.
*)The author is a social and community observer.