Jakarta – The Government, through the Ministry of Social Affairs, has officially opened the Sekolah Rakyat Desk as a centralized information hub to support the smooth implementation of the Sekolah Rakyat program. This initiative is a tangible step in addressing poverty through education, particularly for children from low-income families.
The Sekolah Rakyat Desk will operate from April 16 to April 23, 2025, at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery Convention Hall in Jakarta. Over the course of five days, the desk will serve as a coordination and consultation center for local governments interested in participating in the development and management of Sekolah Rakyat.
Minister of Social Affairs, Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul), announced that the desk will be staffed by representatives from various ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises.
“This desk will assist local governments with questions regarding permits, land provision, recruitment of teachers and students, as well as infrastructure support,” said Gus Ipul.
He further explained that the Sekolah Rakyat program is designed to foster character building, enhance capacity, and promote social mobility for children from families receiving government assistance.
“They will live and study intensively in boarding schools, all fully funded by the government. Let us make this program a success as part of our effort to achieve Indonesia Emas 2045,” Gus Ipul added.
Meanwhile, Minister of State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, mentioned that 53 Sekolah Rakyat will begin operations in the 2025/2026 academic year, utilizing existing buildings owned by the Ministry of Social Affairs or local governments. “Additionally, 147 new Sekolah Rakyat will be built, with priority given to regions experiencing extreme poverty,” he stated.
In Central Lombok, Vice Chair of Commission IV of the Central Lombok Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD), Wirman Hamzani, praised the government’s swift action. Currently, a ground check is being conducted on 136,920 households listed in the first decile of the Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS).
“The local government has prepared 10 hectares of land for the school construction. This is a tangible demonstration of the state’s presence in providing access to quality education for all children, without exception,” he said.
To date, 211 proposed locations have been identified for the construction of Sekolah Rakyat. The selection of students will be conducted through integration with the National Social and Economic Single Data (DTSEN), ensuring transparency and accuracy in identifying the target beneficiaries.
The government hopes that Sekolah Rakyat will not only be a place for gaining knowledge but also a platform for creating an outstanding generation capable of breaking the cycle of poverty and competing globally.
