By: Gavin Asadit )*
In order to provide quality education for children from poor and extremely poor families, the People’s School Program initiated by President Prabowo Subianto will implement a tailor-made curriculum with a Multi Entry – Multi Exit approach and a boarding system. This curriculum is designed to be flexible, adaptive, and able to produce young generations as agents of change who are ready to face the challenges of the 21st century.
The People’s School initiated by President Prabowo Subianto will be officially launched in July 2025 as part of Presidential Instruction Number 8 of 2025 concerning Optimization of Poverty Alleviation. Minister of Social Affairs, Saifullah Yusuf stated that this program is not just free education, but a real form of the state’s presence for children from extremely poor families. With the boarding school concept, the People’s School offers a conducive environment for elementary to high school students, providing access to complete education without fees and adequate supporting facilities.
The curriculum that will be implemented in the People’s School is prepared in a tailor-made manner, or specifically designed to meet the needs of students with diverse backgrounds. This curriculum uses a Multi Entry – Multi Exit approach, giving students the flexibility to enter and exit the learning program based on their readiness and needs. This model allows for a more adaptive and relevant educational process to the interests and potential of students.
Secretary General of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Robben Rico, explained that with this system, children can take vocational, academic, or life skills paths according to their progress, even if they want to try working across sectors in the middle of the learning process.
In preparing the curriculum, the Ministry of Social Affairs conducted benchmarking to a number of leading schools, such as MAN Insan Cendekia Serpong, CT Arsa Sukoharjo, and Al Hikmah Batu. This comparative study aims to review best practices in aspects of assessment, individual learning, deep learning-based curriculum, and character values. The results of the visit showed that the leading schools integrated initial diagnostic assessments, an orientation period that introduced students to the boarding system, and an in-depth and personalized learning process.
A similar model will be adopted in People’s Schools, where each student will first undergo a preparatory period that includes an assessment of their abilities, character and potential before moving on to the main curriculum.
The learning approach chosen is individual approach and deep learning, where students do not just receive information passively, but actively work on the material with personal guidance, discussions, and project-based assignments. This approach is expected to create a deeper understanding and critical thinking skills among students.
This curriculum also emphasizes character building, spirituality, love of the homeland, and language proficiency. These values are systematically woven into the learning content across elementary to high school levels, with content adjustments according to the age and development of the students.
As proof of the government’s seriousness, a total of 63-65 initial Public School points have been ready for operation as of July 2025. These points are evenly distributed across various provinces, from Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, to Papua, and are planned to increase to 100 points by the end of 2025, even to be spread across 514 districts/cities in the next stage.
At these locations, the Ministry of Social Affairs also handles the selection of materials, planning of facilities, recruitment of teachers through various ASN schemes, full and part-time PPPK, and selection of prospective PPG teachers so that the program runs optimally.
The People’s School infrastructure is designed as a complete mini campus. Each location is equipped with a dormitory building, prayer room, library, computer lab, sports facilities, and representative classrooms. The government guarantees that these facilities are provided free of charge, including uniforms, stationery, shoes, textbooks, and technological equipment to support the 21st century curriculum. The dormitory model is believed to strengthen the values of discipline, solidarity, and collective life which are strong character values in the People’s School Curriculum.
From the academic system side, the character and potential development process remains the main standard so that graduates remain qualified or have high academic abilities. The only requirement is that the economic status of students must come from extremely poor families so that this education is truly inclusive and supports those who have been marginalized. Even the health aspect is a major concern before and during school. If there are students in unhealthy conditions such as tuberculosis, they will be treated first until they recover before being officially accepted into the dormitory.
Previously, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen), Abdul Mu’ti, revealed that the people’s school program will use a specially designed curriculum. The curriculum is called tailor-made with a multi-entry and multi-exit system, this curriculum system makes assessments more personal and based on individual achievements , not a uniform system as in conventional schools . For example, students do not always have to enter class 1, but can immediately occupy the class above it.
The breakthrough of the People’s School is a great hope that quality education can eradicate poverty. Its graduates are expected to become agents of social change, ready to face the world of work, become entrepreneurs, or return to make a positive impact in their home communities. Along with the readiness of 63 – 65 starting points in July 2025, this program is currently the main focus of the government, local governments, and supporting communities so that education for vulnerable groups can be equal to other leading schools.
)* The author is an observer of social and community issues
