People’s School Officially Operational, Government Prioritizes It as a Manifestation of Social Justice
JAKARTA – The Indonesian government, under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, has officially launched the People’s School (Sekolah Rakyat) program as a concrete step to break the cycle of structural poverty through education. This program is designed as a free boarding school specifically for children from poor and extremely poor families, emphasizing the principles of social justice and early human resource empowerment.
Minister of Social Affairs, Saifullah Yusuf, commonly known as Gus Ipul, emphasized that the success of the People’s School is built upon strong discipline and a comprehensive educational system.
“Discipline is instilled from the moment students enter the People’s School. Students must comply with all school regulations,” said Gus Ipul.
According to him, the People’s School upholds three fundamental commitments as its core pillars: preventing bullying, sexual harassment, and intolerance.
“These three issues must be prevented as strictly as possible. This school must be a safe, healthy, and loving environment for every student,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Senior Expert Staff Adita Irawati added that the People’s School represents the real implementation of President Prabowo’s fourth Asta Cita (Eight Aspirations) program.
“The President understands that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Poverty must not become an inherited condition,” Adita explained.
She further noted that although public schools in Indonesia are tuition-free, indirect costs such as transportation, pocket money, uniforms, and school supplies remain a significant burden for poor families. The People’s School aims to eliminate these barriers.
“With the People’s School, all student needs will be covered by the government. Students will also gain life skills to prepare them for independence and community contribution,” Adita added.
Malik, Chairman of the Anak Nagari Indonesia Foundation and an activist for non-formal education in North Jakarta, welcomed the launch of the People’s School but reminded the government of the importance of supporting non-formal educational institutions that have long served marginalized children.
“Non-formal schools, including PKBM (Community Learning Centers) and other learning communities, also deserve serious attention from the state. Thousands of children have been saved through these alternative educational paths,” Malik noted.
He stressed that social justice in education must reach all groups, not just a select few. In his view, collaboration between the People’s School and non-formal educational institutions is crucial to ensure no child is left behind.
“We are ready to continue collaborating in building future generations, but social justice in education must be realized for everyone,” Malik concluded.
With the official launch of the People’s School, the government demonstrates its commitment to supporting the most vulnerable citizens. This program serves as tangible evidence of the state’s presence in ensuring social justice, driven by a spirit of collaboration and a strong commitment to equitable access to education.
The People’s School also implements a boarding school system that not only delivers the national curriculum but also focuses on character education, spirituality, and early talent mapping. A multi-entry and multi-exit system is applied to provide flexibility for children from complex backgrounds.
The Ministry of Social Affairs targets the establishment of 100 People’s Schools in the initial phase, each capable of accommodating up to 1,000 students. The program will continue to expand to reach 500,000 children from poor families over the next five years.
