By: Ayu Ramadhani)
Human resource development is often hindered by widespread disparities in the quality of education. To this day, family economic background remains a key determinant of a student’s academic achievement. This reality indicates that educational institutions have not fully succeeded in fulfilling their role as instruments of social equity. In response to this challenge, the government has initiated the People’s School program as a concrete step to expand access to quality education for all segments of society without exception.
Analysis of national education data shows a significant positive shift following the implementation of the People’s School program. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in 2024, prior to the program, the School Participation Rate (APS) for senior secondary education (SMA/SMK) stood at 73.42 percent. This figure reflected substantial barriers for around 26 percent of adolescents of productive age in accessing secondary education, largely due to financial constraints and the uneven distribution of educational facilities. However, data from 2025, after the program was implemented on a massive scale, shows a notable increase in participation to 74.64 percent.
An increase of 1.22 percent within a single fiscal year represents an achievement that surpasses growth trends in previous years. This progress is most evident in marginal areas, where access to quality education is no longer exclusive. These statistics are not merely numbers, but indicators that the democratization of education is beginning to work effectively, paving the way for the emergence of a more inclusive and evenly distributed generation of excellence across all levels of society. Thus, the presence of the People’s School program has demonstrably had a direct impact on strengthening access to education in Indonesia.
This statistical success has encouraged the government to designate People’s Schools as a national priority program. President Prabowo Subianto stated that the program is designed as a strategic instrument to expand access for the poor and extremely poor. With a target capacity of up to 1,000 students per school, the program is projected to reach 500,000 learners across Indonesia. This equalization effort is expected to become a key driver in eradicating extreme poverty through education.
A similar view was expressed by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu’ti, who emphasized that the People’s School program represents a direct implementation of the Prabowo administration’s vision to expand access to quality education for all Indonesian children. The program is specifically designed to reach children from underprivileged families who face barriers to education due to economic limitations. The government ensures that education costs are fully covered by the state, eliminating financial barriers to a better future.
The government has demonstrated that the success of the People’s School program is not measured solely by the number of buildings constructed, but also by the quality of services provided, ensuring that standards are comparable to leading educational institutions. Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf explained that each People’s School unit is designed with exceptional facilities, including digital laboratories, high-speed internet access, and the latest Learning Management Systems (LMS). In addition to physical infrastructure, quality is further strengthened through the placement of selected educators with specialized competencies in addressing the psychosocial dynamics of students from marginalized backgrounds.
With facilities and a curriculum that are adaptive to future industry needs, People’s Schools are no longer merely places of learning, but high-quality platforms for nurturing a globally competitive generation. In the recruitment process, People’s Schools do not open general enrollment. Selection is conducted through direct outreach based on DTSEN data, accompanied by field verification by social facilitators in collaboration with local governments, ensuring that the program truly benefits those in need.
To sustain this early success in the long term, stronger synergy is required among central and regional governments, as well as the private sector. Regular updates of beneficiary data, maintenance of digital facilities, and continuous teacher capacity building are essential to maintaining quality standards over time. In addition, broad public support is needed to eliminate negative stigma toward free education. With strict oversight and transparent management, People’s Schools can become a national education model that not only focuses on the number of buildings, but truly produces a superior generation with competitive and high-quality graduates.
Overall, the People’s School program represents a tangible manifestation of the state’s efforts to democratize the quality of education in Indonesia. By dismantling financial barriers and providing facilities equivalent to top-tier schools for underprivileged communities, the program is laying the foundation for an inclusive generation of excellence. The significant increase in school participation rates in 2025 proves that when access is widely opened, the potential of the nation’s children can grow without limits. Through People’s Schools, quality education is no longer a privilege for a select few, but a bridge for every Indonesian child—regardless of background—to move confidently toward a bright future.
*) Socio-Economic Issues Observer
