People’s School Drives Social Education Transformation in the First Year of the Prabowo-Gibran Administration
Jakarta — The People’s School program continues to show significant impact in driving social education transformation in Indonesia, marking exactly one year of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s administration.
Initiated through Presidential Instruction No. 8 of 2025, this program has become a strategic pillar in breaking the cycle of poverty through inclusive education and empowerment of extremely poor families.
Deputy Minister of Social Affairs, Agus Jabo Priyono, emphasized that the development of People’s Schools is a national priority program that must be accelerated with full support from regional heads.
“The target of the People’s School is clear: families in the first income decile — no favoritism or backdoor entries allowed. People’s School is a national priority to break the transmission of poverty through education,” said Agus Jabo.
The People’s School is designed as a flagship school, not merely an alternative school. Complete facilities such as dormitories, laboratories, libraries, dining halls, places of worship, and sports fields are prepared in an integrated manner. Students will receive laptops, eight sets of clothing, as well as economic support for their families including home repairs and parental empowerment.
Development is carried out gradually by utilizing regional government buildings and revitalizing existing campuses in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR).
To ensure accurate targeting, the Ministry of Social Affairs formed a cross-ministry task force and uses the National Social Economic Single Data (DTSEN) as the primary reference for beneficiary determination.
“All programs must be based on single data. Regents and mayors must proactively conduct ground checks so that recipients are truly families in the first decile,” added Agus Jabo.
Meanwhile, Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul), during a Social Welfare and People’s School Dialogue in Sumedang, West Java, stressed the importance of downstreaming education within this program.
“People’s School doesn’t just want to graduate students, but wants to guide graduates to become children who can truly obtain jobs according to their capabilities,” asserted Gus Ipul.
This downstreaming has already produced tangible results. Thirty-five students from People’s Schools have been confirmed to receive scholarships to study at Ary Ginanjar University (UAG), with seven of them already guaranteed employment after graduation, even though their graduation is still six to seven years away.
“There are three keys to understanding the People’s School: to honor the common people, to reach those who have not been reached, and to make the impossible possible,” Gus Ipul added.
Furthermore, Gus Ipul assured that there is no nepotism or illegal fees in the selection of People’s School participants.
“Those who attend here are not acquaintances of the regent, not acquaintances of the Minister of Social Affairs, not placements, not results of bribery. Those who attend here are people listed in the BPS (Statistics Indonesia) data and are truly in the lowest decile,” he explained.
