By: Zahra Safira )*
The government continues to optimize the People’s School program as a strategic instrument in building the future of Indonesia’s human resources. Amidst the challenges of structural poverty and unequal access to education, People’s Schools are positioned as an affirmative action policy designed to ensure that every Indonesian child, regardless of socioeconomic background, has an equal opportunity to develop.
President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka have positioned improving human resource quality as the primary foundation for long-term poverty alleviation. Education is viewed not simply as a public service, but as a state investment to break the chain of intergenerational underdevelopment. Within this framework, the People’s School serves as a concrete implementation of the national development vision, particularly within the Asta Cita mission, which positions education as a lever for social justice.
The People’s School was designed as a massive educational movement aimed at broadening public understanding of the importance of equal education for all children. This program targets children from poor and extremely poor families who have faced serious barriers to accessing quality education, both due to financial constraints and unfavorable social conditions.
The government is targeting the operation of up to 500 People’s Schools by 2029. This target demonstrates the country’s commitment to building an inclusive and sustainable education system. To date, 166 People’s Schools are operational, covering elementary through high school levels, marking the initial phase of the program’s nationwide expansion.
The President considered this achievement a significant step in expanding education for the most vulnerable groups in society. Children previously recorded in the National Socioeconomic Single Data in the first and second deciles now have access to education that was previously virtually denied to them. Many of them come from families in the lowest economic conditions, and some have never even received formal education.
Through the People’s School, these children can now attend school free of charge under an integrated boarding system. The state covers all of the students’ basic needs, including education, housing, and nutritional needs. This approach is designed to ensure that economic factors are no longer a reason for interrupting a child’s learning process.
The President views this program as a bold step by the government to break the cycle of poverty. He believes that a family’s economic background should not determine a child’s future. With appropriate educational intervention, children from poor families have an equal opportunity to improve their quality of life and contribute to the nation.
In the context of long-term human resource development, the People’s School is expected to be the foundation for realizing Golden Indonesia 2045. Strengthening human quality from an early age to adolescence is seen as a prerequisite for Indonesia to be able to compete globally and escape the middle-income country trap.
Support for this program also comes from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. Minister Abdul Mu’ti emphasized that the academic aspects of the People’s Schools are a serious government priority. The provision of a relevant curriculum, teacher training, and strengthening of learning governance are ongoing efforts to maintain educational quality alongside the expansion of the number of schools.
According to Abdul, the People’s School serves not only as a place for knowledge transfer but also as a growth space for students to develop character, basic skills, and self-confidence. Therefore, the learning approach is designed to be adaptive through a multi-entry and multi-exit system to accommodate the diversity of student backgrounds.
Specialized training for teachers is also a crucial part of program optimization. The government ensures that educators have the capacity to support children through complex social experiences, while also encouraging the strengthening of literacy, numeracy, and character competencies.
Cross-ministerial synergy is also being strengthened to support the sustainability of the People’s Schools. The Ministry of Education, Primary and Secondary Education is collaborating with the Ministry of Social Affairs to ensure school capacity and educator readiness align with the program’s affirmative objectives. This collaboration reflects the government’s integrated, non-sectoral approach.
Going forward, the government will also prioritize the development of People’s Schools in areas with high poverty rates. Locations will be selected selectively to ensure the program reaches its target groups and maximizes its impact on improving human resource quality in the regions.
The Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR RI), Hidayat Nur Wahid, also expressed his appreciation for this initiative. He viewed the People’s School as a strategic step in breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty through proper and quality education. He believes that with proper education, children from poor families can grow into an independent and competitive generation.
Hidayat also views the People’s School as part of the country’s broader effort to develop a young generation that is not only academically intelligent but also prepared to face global challenges. Equitable education is considered key to catching up with Indonesia’s lagging human resources.
By optimizing the People’s Schools, the government affirms its commitment to making education a primary tool for social transformation. With targeted, measurable, and sustainable policies, People’s Schools are expected to become a strong foundation for developing superior human resources and a more equitable and competitive future for Indonesia.
)* The author is a contributor to the Indonesian Strategic Information Study Institute