The Community Enthusiastically Welcomes the Presence of Public Schools, Proving Education is a Top Priority for the State
Jakarta — Public enthusiasm for the People’s School program has emerged in various regions. This program is seen as a clear affirmation that the state places education at the forefront of its development agenda, as well as a strategic instrument for improving the quality of human resources and breaking the chain of structural poverty.
Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi stated that the inauguration of hundreds of People’s Schools was not merely an administrative event, but a crucial moment to demonstrate the state’s presence for those most in need of access to education. “Today is not just the inauguration of People’s Schools, but a reminder that the state and the government are present to ensure every child of the nation has the opportunity to learn adequately,” he said at the inauguration.
He explained that through the operation of 166 People’s Schools across Indonesia, approximately 15,000 students from elementary, middle, and high school levels have participated in the learning process. People’s Schools are specifically designed for children from families with the most difficult economic circumstances, including those from the extreme poor and children who were previously at risk of dropping out of school or lacked adequate access to formal education.
According to Prasetyo Hadi, although some initially doubted the People’s School program, the government has consistently pursued the policy, alongside improvements to regular schools. “This year, the government is targeting the renovation of at least 60,000 schools, while also improving the quality of teachers and learning facilities to ensure equitable education,” he said.
He emphasized that People’s Schools do not replace the role of regular schools, but rather complement the national education system so that children from the most vulnerable families are not left behind by the flow of development.
Furthermore, the government has distributed interactive panels to approximately 288,000 schools by 2025 as part of a technology-based transformation of educational facilities. These groundbreaking steps are being taken to ensure education becomes a key instrument in driving social mobility and national awakening toward a Golden Indonesia 2045.
Public enthusiasm was also evident when President Prabowo Subianto symbolically inaugurated the People’s School in Banjarbaru City, South Kalimantan. From the President’s arrival until he reached the Social Welfare Education and Training Center, residents lined the route to extend a warm welcome. The President returned the greetings from his vehicle, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere.
With the inauguration of 166 People’s Schools, the government affirms its commitment to expanding access to fair and equitable education, from urban areas to remote areas, as a key pillar of national development.
