By: Dhita Karuniawati )*
Towards Golden Indonesia 2045, the government has launched various national development strategies, one of which is strengthening the education sector. In this context, People’s Schools have now been adopted and strengthened by the government as an innovative and inclusive alternative that is expected to be able to bridge the gap in access to education, especially in underdeveloped, remote, and marginalized areas. People’s Schools, initiated by communities or non-governmental organizations, are not just informal educational facilities, but social movements that have a big goal: to create superior, critical, and character-based generations to welcome a century of Indonesian independence.
People’s Schools are a form of non-formal education driven by the community, community, or social organization. Now strengthened through government support, although initially volunteer-based, People’s Schools open learning spaces for children from underprivileged families or marginalized communities. Learning is carried out in a more flexible, participatory, and contextual form.
The subject matter taught is not only about academic subjects such as mathematics, language, or science, but also includes character education, entrepreneurship, ecology, and other life skills. This approach aims to form students who are not only intellectually intelligent, but also socially and emotionally resilient.
The government through the Vision of Golden Indonesia 2045 targets Indonesia to become a developed country with four main pillars: human development and mastery of science and technology, sustainable economic development, equitable development, and national resilience and governance.
In the first pillar, the role of education is very crucial. Sekolah Rakyat, with the spirit of independence and community empowerment, acts as a social laboratory to produce quality human resources.
Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul) said that Sekolah Rakyat is here to accommodate those who have been left behind. Those who are not included in the regular education process. The approach is special with special policies. They will be treated according to their needs, not treated the same.
Gus Ipul emphasized the government’s commitment through the Sekolah Rakyat program to provide quality education for children of poor and extremely poor families in Indonesia. This initiative came from President Prabowo who stated that the state must be present to honor the poor. The People’s School is designed to break the chain of intergenerational poverty by providing equal and quality access to education.
The People’s School program is regulated in Presidential Instruction Number 8 of 2025 concerning the eradication of extreme poverty, which places the Ministry of Social Affairs as the main person in charge, and involves various ministries and local governments. The approach applied is a special approach that prioritizes the national socio-economic single data (DTSEN) to ensure the right target.
This program is also equipped with a mentoring system and mapping of student abilities without academic tests so that education can be accessed by all children without exception. The school facilities will be in the form of superior boarding schools with the latest educational technology, laboratories, libraries, and adequate sports facilities. One important aspect of the People’s School is the empowerment of students’ parents. The government initiated a series of programs for parents who, according to Gus Ipul, are in extreme poverty.
In an effort to improve the quality of the People’s School, the government through the Ministry of Social Affairs will hold a retreat for 53 People’s School Principals in stages. In the initial stage, the retreat will be held at the Social Welfare Education and Training Center, Margaguna, South Jakarta, from 16 to 20 June 2025. This activity aims to unite understanding and align work standards in managing People’s Schools throughout Indonesia.
Retreat participants come from 53 People’s Schools spread across various regions. This activity is also an event to strengthen the spirit of togetherness among School Principals. For five days, participants received briefing materials ranging from People’s School Policies, Child-Friendly Inclusive Education & Human Rights, Boarding School Management, Curriculum, to National Defense and School Administration Management. The speakers come from various institutions, including the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, the Ministry of Religion, the KPAI, and the TNI.
The principals involved in this activity have gone through a strict selection process. In fact, the selection was carried out by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Social Affairs by considering proposals from the Regional Government. Each region submitted at least three names of prospective school principals, and from 159 participants, 53 people were selected to attend the first stage of the retreat.
Domicileis one of the main requirements, in addition to principal certification and registration with the Ministry of Education and Culture. Participants also undergo psychological tests and assessments of six main competencies, such as the ability to lead and initiate change, build networks, and translate visions into real action. The Ministry of Social Affairs also ensures the mental readiness of school principals to carry out tasks in the field.
The Ministry of Social Affairs is targeting a total of 100 Principals for the first wave of People’s Schools. An additional 47 names will be announced at the end of June along with the results of the selection of 1,554 teachers who will accompany around 9,780 students at 100 People’s School locations. The process of calling students to the dormitory is scheduled to begin on July 14, 2025.
Indonesia Emas 2045 is not only about economic growth or military strength, but also about the quality of human resources with character, creativity, and competence. People’s Schools are a manifestation of the spirit of change that grows from the grassroots. People’s Schools prove that education is the right of everyone, not just those born in fortunate environments.
By expanding support and recognition for Sekolah Rakyat, Indonesia is building a strong foundation to realize its great ideals in 2045. Because in the end, the success of a nation is not only measured by numbers, but by the extent to which every child can dream and realize their dreams through meaningful education.
)* Contributor to the Indonesian Strategic Information Study Institute
