The Government Ensures 15,000 Laptops for Elementary Schools Are Distributed to Their Targets
By: Wijayanto Rakadewa )*
The government has once again demonstrated its commitment to the education sector by procuring 15,000 laptops for students at Elementary Schools. This strategic move not only provides technical support for the teaching and learning process but also serves as a clear signal that transparency and anti-corruption are top priorities in every public initiative. This policy also reinforces the government’s commitment to ensuring that every education policy is oriented towards equitable quality and justice for all children of the nation.
Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf, also known as Gus Ipul, emphasized that the entire procurement process was conducted transparently, openly, and accountably, without any loopholes. The first phase of laptop procurement will target approximately 9,705 students, followed by the second phase for 5,665 students, totaling more than 15,370 laptops to be distributed soon. Gus Ipul added that this program follows President Prabowo Subianto’s directive that all procurement in the education sector be conducted under strict supervision.
The principle of transparency applies not only to the distribution process but also to the publicly accessible reporting stage. The success of this program depends heavily on public trust, so each stage must be jointly monitored by the government, oversight bodies, and citizens. This step is expected to become a model for clean public procurement that can be replicated in other sectors.
Serious support for this program has come from Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, who has stated that the budget allocation for the People’s School program has reached IDR 7 trillion this year. She promised the budget would increase further in 2026 as the program expands to 200 community schools. She emphasized that every rupiah spent will be transparently accounted for, in accordance with the principles of clean state financial management.
This policy also received positive attention from Kurniasih Mufidayati, Chairperson of the PKS Central Executive Board for Education and Health. She assessed that the People’s School not only provides free education for children from poor and extremely poor families but also serves as a means of character building through a boarding system. In her view, providing laptops will strengthen the quality of learning, both in the classroom and outside of school hours.
The program’s success is measured not only by the number of laptops distributed, but also by their optimal utilization. Therefore, technology training for teachers, assistants, and students must be an integral part of the program. This approach ensures that laptops are not merely inert devices, but rather effective tools for improving digital literacy and the competitiveness of Indonesian children in the global era.
Based on the program’s background, the People’s School represents a government initiative to address the issue of school dropouts among low-income families. Unlike regular schools, the People’s School provides full dormitory support, meals, learning materials, and character education. With the addition of laptops, students will have broader access to online learning resources, research opportunities, and training in other relevant skills.
The government is also anticipating potential distribution issues and misuse by implementing a National Identification Number (NIK)-based data collection system and on-site verification. This mechanism minimizes the risk of laptops falling into unauthorized hands. Furthermore, the integration of a public reporting system will make it easier for the public to monitor the distribution progress. This demonstrates that technology is not only provided to students but also utilized to ensure transparency.
In terms of long-term impact, the procurement of these laptops will help reduce the digital divide in remote areas. Limited internet access and devices have traditionally left children from low-income families lagging behind their urban peers. With adequate devices and a continuously expanded network, learning opportunities will become more equitable.
This policy represents a synergy between the vision of inclusive education and clean governance practices. The government is not only building physical infrastructure but also preparing competitive human resources. Transparency, closely monitored budget management, and cross-agency support demonstrate that education issues can become a political rallying point for national progress.
At a time when our nation is facing economic and educational challenges, the procurement of 15,000 laptops for the People’s Schools demonstrates that the government’s concern for the younger generation is more than just rhetoric. This initiative was designed with precision, a serious budget, and transparent mechanisms, ensuring the right to quality education for all children of the nation without compromising integrity. This program is expected to accelerate equitable digital literacy, enabling students in remote areas to compete on the national and global stage.
As the government strives to build the foundation for national progress, this strategic step should serve as a model for future education programs. We should express our utmost appreciation for the government’s strong commitment to preventing corruption while continuing to educate the nation. The procurement of these laptops is not just an investment in hardware, but an investment in the future of the next generation, ready to build a superior and civilized Indonesia.
)* The author is a social observer
