Jakarta – The government has ensured the budget allocation for the School Rakyat Program as a concrete step to improve the quality of education and address extreme poverty through education.
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati confirmed that the implementation of the School Rakyat Program has been included in the 2025 National Budget (APBN) with a total education budget allocation of IDR 724.3 trillion. According to her, the implementation of School Rakyat aims to provide education for underprivileged students.
“The government is continuing to finalize this plan. We are even creating School Rakyat for the poor. This is currently being refined and will be expanded,” she said.
In agreement, Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf stated that, as per President Prabowo’s directives, School Rakyat will be built on land of at least 10 hectares. However, if land availability becomes an issue, land ranging from 5 to 10 hectares can still be used.
“School Rakyat is designed to accommodate 1,000 students, with educational levels from elementary school (SD), junior high school (SMP), to senior high school (SMA). Currently, the school building design is being finalized to be implemented simultaneously across all regions in Indonesia,” Saifullah explained.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Chairperson of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives, My Esti Wijayati, appreciated the government’s initiative but also emphasized the importance of good coordination between the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology.
“This coordination enhancement is crucial to avoid overlapping authorities and budget management that could lead to inefficiency. Careful curriculum development, along with transparent and accountable financial management, is essential to ensure the long-term success of this program,” she said.
The School Rakyat Program is one of the strategic pillars in realizing the vision of Indonesia Emas 2045, ensuring that all Indonesian children have equal access to high-quality education. This program is also expected to significantly reduce the school dropout rate, especially in remote areas that have long been difficult to reach by formal education services.
The central government will provide full support for the School Rakyat program, including the provision of educators and coordination with local governments. The program is part of the government’s effort to ensure equal access to education in all regions.
As part of the implementation strategy, the government also plans intensive training for educators who will serve in the School Rakyat, as well as collaborate with private sector partners and non-governmental organizations to ensure the program runs sustainably.
With these various efforts, it is hoped that the School Rakyat Program will create significant changes in the education sector in Indonesia while supporting poverty alleviation in the future.
