By: Andhika Utama
Education has always been a crucial foundation for national development. Determined to build a just and progressive Indonesia, the government under President Prabowo Subianto launched the People’s School Program. This program is specifically aimed at children from poor and extremely poor families—communities in deciles 1 and 2—with the goal of providing access to free, quality education. However, like any major program, its implementation will be more optimal thanks to the government’s well-prepared infrastructure.
Since its announcement, the government has moved quickly to map infrastructure needs. The Ministry of Public Works (PU), the Ministry of Social Affairs, and the Cabinet Secretariat have collaborated on location surveys, curriculum development, infrastructure provision, and student admissions mechanisms. As evidence, 53 locations have been identified as ready to host People’s Schools for the start of the 2025-2026 academic year.
The infrastructure in question goes beyond school buildings. Supporting facilities such as adequate classrooms, sanitation, electricity, access to clean water, internet access, dormitories, and other learning support facilities are a major focus. For example, some schools will utilize existing buildings owned by local governments, state-owned enterprises (BUMN), universities, private companies, or other ministries, which will then be rehabilitated or renovated to meet standards. The government also establishes site readiness criteria, including land area, road access, and basic utilities, to ensure schools can meet operational needs and ensure the safety of students and educators.
The program’s implementation is also divided into phases for more manageable management and to monitor progress. Phase I is divided into 1A, 1B, and 1C, totaling 165 community schools for the first phase. Of these, several locations have been operational since July 2025. The government aims for some schools in this phase to be operational by early September 2025.
However, the success of the Community School Program is not solely about building or renovating buildings. Infrastructure also encompasses various more subtle and crucial aspects. For example, internet access is a crucial requirement in the digital era, ensuring that students in 3T (frontier, outermost, and disadvantaged) locations are not left behind in terms of access to information and learning methods. Sanitation and clean water are also very important for a healthy and safe learning environment.
On the other hand, physical infrastructure must be accompanied by adequate human resources—teachers, support staff, school management—and a curriculum that aligns with local and national needs. The government has included curriculum preparation in the public school preparation agenda. With a relevant curriculum, the impact of infrastructure support will be maximized.
Real challenges remain. Some proposed schools still do not utilize existing buildings, while some locations are even undergoing new construction from scratch, demonstrating the government’s commitment to increasing educational facilities. Furthermore, in some regions, land availability is not optimal. The government continues to strive to provide basic utilities in remote areas to ensure equitable service standards. The government ensures efficient funding flows with cross-level coordination to ensure prompt service delivery to the community.
Optimism remains high. Minister of Public Works (PU), Dody Hanggodo, emphasized his strong commitment to supporting the development of educational facilities and infrastructure through this program. Local governments in several locations, such as Kuningan Regency, have even prepared several hectares of land to support the Public School Program. With synergy between central and regional institutions, as well as the involvement of universities in several regions, there is a significant opportunity to ensure that the infrastructure built meets needs and standards.
The government is currently targeting 200 People’s Schools by 2025, with 53 prioritized for completion in the near term (around June/July 2025) to be operational in the new academic year. This program is expected to help break the cycle of poverty by providing educational facilities that do not burden the economy of extremely poor families.
Considering all these aspects, it can be concluded that infrastructure readiness is indeed the main key in determining whether the People’s School Program will be successful or not. If the infrastructure is mature—safe and comfortable buildings, complete facilities, available utilities, and adequate curriculum and teacher support—then this program can be an important milestone in efforts to equalize education in Indonesia. With all infrastructure elements maintained, the People’s School Program will fully optimize serving the nation’s children, schools may not be optimal in serving students, especially those most in need.
)* The author is an observer of strategic issues
