Accelerating Infrastructure Improvements: A Key to the Success of the Community School Program
By: Dhita Karuniawati)
Education is the foundation of national development. Ensuring equitable access to quality education is a strategic responsibility of the government, particularly for communities in disadvantaged, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions. In this context, the Community School (Sekolah Rakyat) Program emerges as a response to the urgent need for inclusive and affordable education for all children across Indonesia. However, for this program to be truly effective and sustainable, accelerating educational infrastructure development is a critical success factor that cannot be overlooked.
The Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) will begin operating Community Schools in the 2025/2026 academic year. Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul) stated that the government targets the establishment of 100 Community Schools in 2025.
Community Schools are one of President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship programs, with the Ministry of Social Affairs as the lead implementing agency. The primary aim of the program is to provide free, quality education to children from low-income families, thereby breaking the cycle of poverty. These schools are designed to function as boarding schools.
MoSA is collaborating with the Ministry of Manpower (MoM) to utilize Vocational Training Centers (Balai Latihan Kerja or BLKs) and regional technical implementation units (UPTDs) under MoM to increase the number of Community Schools.
Gus Ipul noted that, in accordance with President Prabowo’s directive, the two ministries are partnering to repurpose 41 BLKs to expand access to education for more children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
He also mentioned that the collaboration includes developing skill-based curricula aligned with current labor market needs. The readiness of infrastructure at these BLKs, intended to house Community Schools, will be further assessed by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (MPWH).
Minister of Manpower Yassierli welcomed the initiative and fully supports the development of Community Schools.
Yassierli emphasized that the Community School Program is a strategic priority of President Prabowo, and his ministry is committed to contributing all available facilities and expertise.
Earlier, Secretary General of MoSA Robben Rico revealed that President Prabowo had issued instructions to add 100 new Community School sites, bringing the total to 200.
Robben stated that the President issued the directive directly from Russia, calling for 100 additional pilot schools to be established using BLKs located throughout Indonesia.
These new locations will utilize BLKs managed by both the Ministry of Manpower and local governments at the provincial, regency, and municipal levels, as part of the program’s second pilot phase.
The government has formed a Community School Implementation Team, comprising task forces from various ministries and local governments. For the initial phase, 100 sites have been designated and are set to begin instruction in July 2025.
Meanwhile, Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo reaffirmed his ministry’s strong commitment to accelerating the rehabilitation and renovation of educational facilities as part of Phase I of the Community School program.
Dody explained that the use of digital information systems is a key innovation for closely monitoring project progress in 63 locations nationwide in real time.
This digital oversight utilizes technologies such as Continuous Auditing and Continuous Monitoring (CACM), Building Information Modeling (BIM), drones, and online-connected CCTV systems.
Dody emphasized that these technologies enhance transparency and efficiency in managing educational infrastructure projects. Basic facilities—such as school buildings, dormitories, sanitation, and learning support infrastructure—must meet proper standards. This is crucial to ensure that children, particularly those from extremely poor households, have access to high-quality education.
As of June 22, 2025, the national progress of this construction initiative has reached 61.78%, with completion targeted for July 8, 2025.
Dody also underscored the importance of the project in supporting equitable education in Indonesia. Well-developed infrastructure is essential for ensuring effective and high-quality teaching and learning.
Quality educational infrastructure is not merely a short-term investment but a long-term investment in the nation’s future. Children who grow up in safe and well-equipped learning environments tend to develop greater confidence, better health, and enhanced preparedness for the challenges of the future.
Moreover, quality education in supportive environments fosters a more productive, tolerant, and prosperous society. This is why accelerating improvements in educational infrastructure—particularly for Community Schools—must be treated as a national development priority that cannot be postponed.
Community Schools represent a vital response to the pressing need for equitable education for all Indonesian children. However, without adequate infrastructure, the program cannot reach its full potential. Therefore, speeding up infrastructure development must be a top priority within the national education agenda.
Through strong cooperation between the government, communities, and the private sector, the vision of inclusive, fair, and quality education can be achieved. Education is not merely about classrooms—it is about hope. And that hope can only flourish when it is built upon a solid foundation: reliable and sustainable infrastructure.
*) Contributor at the Indonesian Institute for Strategic Information Studies (Lembaga Studi Informasi Strategis Indonesia – LSISI)
