8,000 Sekolah Rakyat Students Receive Free Health Checks, Government Prepares Integrated System
LEBAK — A total of 8,000 students from Sekolah Rakyat (People’s School) across Indonesia have undergone the Free Health Check (Cek Kesehatan Gratis/CKG) program, part of the government’s efforts to ensure the well-being of students in boarding schools. The program has also been implemented in Lebak Regency, Banten, and will be expanded to other regions.
Minister of Social Affairs Saefullah Yusuf stated that the health checks are mandatory for all Sekolah Rakyat students, most of whom attend boarding schools. This measure is taken to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment.
“All Sekolah Rakyat students are required to undergo health checks because the schools use a boarding system,” said Saefullah Yusuf.
He emphasized that this health check requirement is one of several important aspects students and parents need to be aware of.
“There are several things students and parents must know about Sekolah Rakyat, and the first is that health checks are mandatory,” Saefullah explained.
The CKG program is the result of inter-ministerial collaboration, including the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdig), which plays a key role in managing data and the program’s communication system.
Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid stated that her ministry has prepared digital infrastructure to support the effective implementation of the program, particularly in the collection and management of student data nationwide.
“The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs is involved because government programs must be communicated effectively for the sake of transparency and public accountability,” said Meutya.
In addition to public communication, Meutya added that her ministry has also prepared digital connectivity networks to accelerate the processing of students’ health data.
“When this is conducted on a large scale, there will be a tremendous amount of data. It’s essential to have a well-managed and nationally connected data system,” she explained.
Meanwhile, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti stated that each student will receive a small card containing the results of their health check. The information on the card will be used by the local public health centers (Puskesmas) for follow-up if any health issues are detected.
“The health check results for each child will be sent to the Puskesmas. If there are any concerns, they will be followed up,” said Mu’ti.
He added that in some cases, collective follow-ups will be carried out by the Puskesmas and the school, especially if issues affecting groups of students are identified, such as low physical fitness levels.
“The Puskesmas and the school will carry out group-based interventions. For instance, if a group of students is found to have low fitness levels, joint interventions will be implemented,” he noted.
Through the CKG program, the government aims to comprehensively monitor students’ health and foster a healthy and inclusive education ecosystem. As a program that targets children from underprivileged families, Sekolah Rakyat is a key priority in social protection policies and the development of national human resources.
By implementing this program, the government is not only working to improve academic quality, but also ensuring the physical and mental readiness of students as part of a long-term investment in human development. Moving forward, the program will continue to be expanded and strengthened, including through the integration of nutrition services, mental health support, and regular monitoring, making Sekolah Rakyat a truly holistic and sustainable boarding school model.
