By: Andi Mahesa)*
Education is not just a right, but the foundation of national progress. Amidst the challenges of inequality in access to education between regions, the government has presented a strategic breakthrough by accelerating the construction of People’s Schools. This program is not just about building school buildings, but also opening the way for the birth of a superior future generation, free from the trap of structural poverty, and highly competitive. This is a real manifestation of the state’s support for the common people, especially those in remote areas of the country.
Sekolah Rakyat is an inclusive education initiative designed to reach areas that have not been optimally served by the formal education system. Its main targets are children from extremely poor families and remote areas. With free facilities and a curriculum tailored to local needs, Sekolah Rakyat is a bridge for the younger generation to obtain quality education without having to move to the city or burden their parents financially.
President Prabowo Subianto, through the Asta Cita vision, firmly places the education sector as one of the main pillars towards Golden Indonesia 2045. This vision is now translated concretely through cross-ministerial involvement in the development of People’s Schools.
Minister of Public Works, Dody Hanggodo, stated that the PU Ministry is ready to fully support the development of educational facilities and infrastructure in the regions, including the People’s School program in various districts. This is in line with the central government’s commitment to improving access and quality of education throughout Indonesia.
Dody emphasized that support for the People’s School program is a direct implementation of President Prabowo’s direction. The Ministry of Public Works will spearhead the physical development of schools starting from child-friendly architectural design, disaster-resistant infrastructure, to proper sanitation facilities. He also encouraged local governments to immediately prepare development proposals and prepare land as a form of central-regional synergy. This Development Acceleration cannot go one way. Local governments must be proactive in identifying needs and submitting proposals quickly.
Meanwhile, Minister of Social Affairs, Saifullah Yusuf, highlighted the strategic role of People’s Schools in the context of poverty alleviation. According to him, education is the most powerful instrument to break the chain of intergenerational poverty, because People’s Schools are designed to help underprivileged students, especially from the extreme poor so that they can attend school for free and with quality.
The Minister of Social Affairs’ statement touches on the root of the nation’s socio-economic problems. In Indonesia, poverty is still the main cause of children dropping out of school. The cost of transportation, uniforms, and daily necessities make many families reluctant to send their children to school, especially if the nearest school is tens of kilometers away. Sekolah Rakyat is here as a concrete solution to this problem. With a location that is close and free of charge, this school will be the starting point for sustainable social change.
Then, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education also showed a strong commitment. Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti stated his full readiness to collaborate across ministries to accelerate the realization of the People’s School. According to him, the construction of the People’s School is a strategic step to ensure that no Indonesian child is left behind in the right to education. Underprivileged children who have not been accommodated in public schools will have access through the People’s School and this is a form of the state’s presence in preparing superior Indonesian talents for the future.
The ministry he leads is designing a contextual and adaptive curriculum. In addition to general subjects, the People’s School will integrate character education, life skills , and local wisdom. Thus, People’s School graduates are not only academically intelligent, but also resilient in facing local socio-economic realities.
Several studies have shown that education that is close to the local community tends to be more effective in increasing student participation and educational sustainability. This is where the advantage of the People’s School is present not as a foreign entity, but as part of the community itself.
More than just buildings and facilities, the People’s School is a manifestation of social justice. The school reflects the principle that every Indonesian child, wherever they are born, has the same right to dream and achieve a bright future. The acceleration of the development of People’s Schools in various regions is a real manifestation of the constitutional promise to educate the nation’s life.
The success of this program certainly requires support from all parties. Local governments must be responsive and innovative, local communities need to be involved in supervision and maintenance, and the business world is expected to contribute through CSR schemes or development partnerships. Universities and educational institutions can also provide support through community service programs or training for teachers of the People’s School.
In the long term, the existence of the People’s School is believed to provide long-term benefits, in addition to increasing school participation rates in disadvantaged areas, it also spurs local economic growth. When children get access to proper education, they will grow into productive individuals who are able to create change in their communities.
)* The author is a student at Unas Jakarta.
