Education Equity Realized Through People’s Schools in the First Year of the Prabowo-Gibran Administration
By: Rivka Mayangsari
Approaching the first anniversary of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s leadership, the direction of national development increasingly emphasizes support for the common people. One monumental step now showing tangible results is the launch of the People’s Schools program, a strategic initiative affirming the government’s commitment to providing inclusive, equitable, and just education for all children of the nation.
Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf considers People’s Schools to have three main pillars that reflect the government’s noble philosophy in developing Indonesian human resources. First, to honor the common people; second, to reach those previously unreached; and third, to enable what was once considered impossible. He emphasized that the implementation of People’s Schools is an integral part of poverty alleviation efforts, which remain a key focus of President Prabowo’s strategic programs.
More than just educational institutions, People’s Schools are positioned as centers of social empowerment. Saifullah explained that social facilitators and key field actors are tasked with understanding this grand mission: education must not stop at the classroom but must become a national movement to break the cycle of poverty across generations. To this end, parents of students in People’s Schools will also be empowered through various social programs and economic training so their families can grow into independent and productive households.
According to Saifullah, education is the most powerful tool to uplift the dignity of the common people. With an approach that touches the root of social issues, the government strives to restore the school’s role as a space of liberation, not merely a place to acquire knowledge. He stressed that People’s Schools embody the true spirit of mutual cooperation in building the nation’s future from the grassroots level.
Deputy Minister of Social Affairs, Agus Jabo Priyono, added that the People’s Schools program is a concrete government step to change the paradigm of impoverished communities. He said the government’s main focus now is to transform social assistance recipients from mere beneficiaries into empowered individuals. People’s Schools serve as a bridge connecting social assistance to human empowerment.
Agus explained that People’s Schools are designed as a new hope for the poor, extremely poor, and vulnerable populations registered in the National Integrated Data for Extreme Social Welfare (DTSEN) deciles 1 to 4. Unlike regular formal schools, People’s Schools provide not only academic education but also character education, life skills, and entrepreneurship training based on local potential. With a boarding school system, students receive comprehensive development covering education, health, and morality.
According to Agus, People’s Schools represent President Prabowo’s grand vision to build superior and resilient Indonesian human resources. He said this program is a real implementation of the “No one left behind” principle — ensuring that no citizen is deprived of their fundamental right to quality education.
Moreover, the system applied in People’s Schools also represents a comprehensive social reform. Each student is guided to master practical skills such as modern agriculture, creative industries, information technology, and digital vocations. Therefore, graduates of People’s Schools are expected to be not only academically competent but also prepared to face the workforce and become agents of change in their respective communities.
Support for this program also comes from various ministries and agencies, including the Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (Kemen P2MI). Deputy Minister of P2MI, Christina Aryani, emphasized that People’s Schools are a strategic government breakthrough in opening wider and more inclusive educational access, especially for children from underprivileged families. She considers this step as the government’s courage to break through bureaucratic barriers and deliver real social justice.
Christina explained that Kemen P2MI is committed to strengthening education and training pathways for young workers emerging from People’s Schools. Graduates will be guided to have competencies aligned with workforce demands, both domestically and abroad, following principles of safety, legality, and dignity. She stressed that human resource development is the primary foundation for national progress, and education is the gateway to better social mobility.
Furthermore, Christina conveyed that People’s Schools symbolize a real change in the national education paradigm. The government no longer views education as a budget burden but as a long-term investment for the nation’s future. Every Indonesian child now has equal opportunities to learn, dream, and thrive without being limited by their family’s economic conditions.
Through People’s Schools, the government demonstrates that social transformation is not mere rhetoric but concrete action. Education is used as the main weapon to combat poverty, ignorance, and inequality. One year into the Prabowo-Gibran administration marks the beginning of an inclusive, humanistic education system that prioritizes the common people.
With cross-ministerial synergy, support from social workers, and the spirit of mutual cooperation in society, People’s Schools are believed to become a vital pillar in producing Indonesia’s superior generation. As experts affirm, this initiative is not just about schooling but about a future where every Indonesian child, without exception, has the right to learn, grow, and lead their nation toward glory.
*) Social Observer
