By: Nanang Hermansyah )* 
Education is the primary foundation for building a highly competitive nation. Through the People’s School Program, the government continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to ensuring that no Indonesian child is left behind in access to education. This program is designed to reach the extreme poor who have traditionally struggled to access formal education, using an inclusive, adaptive, and national values-based approach.
However, amidst ongoing implementation in various regions, the government, along with the House of Representatives (DPR) and related institutions, continues to conduct comprehensive evaluations to ensure the program truly provides maximum benefits to the community. This evaluation includes aspects of supervision, data validation, and improving the quality of facilities and teaching staff, so that the People’s School is not merely a symbol of empathy, but a real instrument for poverty alleviation through education.
I Ketut Kariyasa Adnyana, a member of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), from the PDI-P faction, believes that supervision and data validation are key to the success of the People’s School Program, which targets the extreme poor. He believes that a program of this magnitude requires a multi-layered, transparent, and multi-stakeholder oversight system to ensure its effectiveness.
Ketut emphasized that Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) will continue to monitor and evaluate the program’s implementation. He even stated that his institution has prepared a work visit plan to several locations where the People’s Schools are being implemented to ensure that implementation on the ground is proceeding according to plan. This step demonstrates that the DPR plays a role not only in budgeting but also actively oversees the program’s implementation, right down to its roots.
Ketut further explained that the DPR will conduct direct inspections from the preparation stage through implementation. The evaluation process will also involve independent supervisors and universities to maintain the objectivity of the assessment. This participatory approach demonstrates the government and legislature’s commitment to ensuring that the People’s Schools are truly capable of elevating the dignity of the extremely poor through education.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB), Rini Widyantini, likened the People’s Schools to the “heart” of improving the quality of Indonesia’s human resources. She believes that education in this program is not solely textbook-oriented, but also builds character, discipline, and good habits that will serve as the moral foundation for the nation’s next generation. Rini emphasized that the People’s School is not a temporary program, but a long-term investment for the future. The sustainability of this school is proof that education policies that favor the poor don’t just remain on paper or at meeting tables, but are truly present in the community. With cross-sector support and ongoing oversight, this program is expected to become a tangible legacy for the next generation, producing resilient, intelligent, and character-driven children.
A similar view was expressed by Sakop, Head of the Regional Office of the Directorate General of Treasury (DJPb) of North Maluku Province, who viewed the People’s School Program as a concrete manifestation of cross-sector collaboration to expand learning opportunities in areas with limited access to formal education. He stated that the program’s implementation has had a positive impact in promoting equitable education in remote areas.
However, he also acknowledged that several challenges remain on the ground that need to be addressed immediately, such as limited human resources, inadequate funding, and the condition of basic infrastructure like sanitation and clean water. Furthermore, community acceptance of the People’s School is not yet fully unequal, as more intensive outreach regarding the program’s benefits and objectives is still needed. To address these challenges, Sakop recommends several concrete steps, including strengthening teacher recruitment and retention mechanisms, improving sanitation and clean water provision in schools, and evaluating student consumption cost standards. He also emphasized the importance of implementing community-based communication strategies to actively involve the community in school management, thereby ensuring the program’s sustainability. Equally important, support from local governments and social institutions is needed to strengthen the implementation of the People’s School as an integral part of regional development.
Ongoing evaluation of the People’s School Program demonstrates that the government is not simply disseminating policies but also ensuring their effectiveness and sustainability on the ground. Cross-agency oversight, academic involvement, and community participation make this program a concrete example of policy collaboration.A results-oriented public policy.
The success of the People’s School is not only measured by the number of children enrolled in school, but also by the extent to which they acquire the life values that shape the nation’s character. With strong oversight and shared commitment, the People’s School will become a platform that not only educates but also humanizes the Indonesian people.
Ultimately, the People’s School Program reflects the spirit of mutual cooperation in developing superior human resources throughout the country. The government, the House of Representatives (DPR), and all elements of society need to maintain synergy so that this program runs effectively, transparently, and sustainably.
The public is expected to continue to give the government full trust and support in developing the People’s School. With a spirit of togetherness, active participation, and faith in the government’s good intentions, the People’s School will be proof that education for all is not just a slogan, but a reality that will transform the nation’s future.
)* The author is a Public Policy Observer
