By: Juana Syahril)*
The government has good news for children from underprivileged families across Indonesia. In 2026, the flagship Sekolah Rakyat program officially opened a quota for 30,000 new students. This policy marks a significant step in expanding access to fair, equitable, and quality education, while strengthening the country’s commitment to breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty through integrated boarding school education.
Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf, also known as Gus Ipul, stated that the allocation of 30,000 students is part of the accelerated expansion of People’s Schools nationwide. The government is not only increasing the number of students but also ensuring the readiness of infrastructure, teaching staff, and a transparent, data-driven selection system. This ensures that every child admitted truly receives a safe, appropriate learning environment that supports their optimal development.
The student selection process is currently underway alongside the construction of permanent school buildings. The Ministry of Social Affairs is closely coordinating with the Ministry of Public Works to ensure each school unit is completed on time and meets modern educational facility standards. This synergy demonstrates solid cross-ministerial collaboration for the success of this strategic national program.
Each permanent school is designed to accommodate approximately 300 students initially, with a learning system that combines formal education, character development, and life skills development. In addition to representative classrooms, the People’s Schools also feature dormitories, basic health facilities, a creative space, and social activity areas to support children’s holistic development.
The Ministry of Social Affairs focuses not only on physical development but also on preparing quality human resources. The recruitment of teachers, educational staff, and social workers is carried out in a planned manner to ensure that each student receives optimal academic and psychosocial guidance. The government wants to ensure that People’s Schools are not just places of learning, but also spaces for character development and a brighter future.
The student selection process is conducted using an accurate data-driven approach through the National Socioeconomic Single Data. The Ministry of Social Affairs collaborates closely with the Social Services Agency, the Education Agency, and the Central Statistics Agency at the regional level to identify children from Decile 1 and Decile 2 families. This mechanism ensures that the program truly targets those most in need.
Final student selection is made after receiving an official recommendation from the local head of the region. This stage reflects the strong partnership between the central and regional governments in implementing national-scale social programs. The government also emphasized the importance of the integrity of the selection team to ensure the student admissions process is free from bribery or irregularities.
Behind the good news of this year’s quota opening, the government has an ambitious long-term vision. The People’s Schools are targeted to develop into the largest boarding school network in Indonesia. The development strategy is being implemented in stages but consistently, with a target of at least 100 new permanent schools annually.
If this scheme goes according to plan, by 2029, Indonesia will have 500 People’s Schools spread across all provinces. Each school is designed to accommodate up to 1,000 students from elementary, middle, and high school levels within a single, integrated educational ecosystem. This will bring the total national capacity to 500,000 children from the most vulnerable families.
The People’s School concept goes far beyond the conventional school model. Children learn not only in the classroom but also live in dormitories that provide a safe, disciplined, and conducive environment. The curriculum emphasizes national values, mutual cooperation, leadership, and practical skills relevant to the workplace and community life.
This program is also designed to be inclusive, involving parents. Beneficiary families are not left inactive, but are empowered through various national priority programs, such as skills training, family economic development, and access to social services. With this approach, the People’s School serves as a miniature model for family-based poverty alleviation.
To date, the pilot People’s Schools have operated in 166 locations across 131 regencies/cities and 34 provinces. This network spans Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Bali-Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, and even Papua. This extensive distribution demonstrates that the program is truly operational and has a direct impact on the community.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stated that People’s Schools are a key instrument in Indonesia’s human development agenda. The focus is not simply on increasing the number of schools, but also on ensuring the quality of their social impact. Every child saved from dropping out of school is considered a long-term investment in the nation’s future.
The opening of the 30,000-student quota this year marks a significant milestone in the People’s School’s journey. This program offers real hope to thousands of children who were previously at risk of losing their educational opportunities. At the same time, this policy reinforces the principle of social justice in practical terms.
The People’s School also symbolizes the state’s presence among those most in need. Education is no longer a privilege, but a basic right guaranteed by the government. This step emphasizes that equality is not mere rhetoric, but a concrete policy directly felt by the people.
With cross-ministerial synergy, local government support, and community participation, the target of 500 People’s Schools by 2029 is increasingly realistic. The news of opening 30,000 student quotas this year is not just a figure, but a sign of optimism that the future of Indonesian education will be more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable.
)* The author is a Bogor student living in Jakarta
