The People’s School is here to unite the younger generation in the spirit of the Youth Pledge
Eighty-seven years after the Youth Pledge was proclaimed, the spirit of unity and togetherness has been revived by the government through concrete steps in the field of education.
One of them is through the People’s School Program, which is a symbol of efforts to unite Indonesia’s young generation through equitable, inclusive, and character-based education.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya explained that the People’s School is now operating in 165 locations and will continue to expand.
“The People’s School Program was initiated by the President. This year, 165 schools are operational, and they will be officially opened by the end of the year,” he said.
He emphasized that the main goal of the People’s School is to ensure that all Indonesian children receive the same right to education.
“The President wants all Indonesian children to have the right and ability to attend school. Those who previously couldn’t attend school due to economic hardship are now given the opportunity to learn and practice skills,” he explained.
In addition to education, the People’s School also provides integrated guidance that includes nutrition, health, and decent housing for students.
This concept is believed to be able to answer the challenge of equalizing national education while fostering a spirit of mutual cooperation and unity as stated in the noble values of the Youth Pledge.
Secretary General of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Robben Rico, emphasized that this program arose from the President’s concern over the slow decline in poverty rates and the high number of out-of-school children (ATS).
“Most children drop out of school for economic reasons. The People’s School Program is expected to address this issue through comprehensive, free, boarding school education,” he said.
The government is targeting the construction of permanent People’s School buildings to begin in 2026 and expand its reach until 2029.
The pilot phase has begun in the 2025/2026 academic year by utilizing renovated state facilities.
Appreciation for this policy came from the Deputy Chairman of the MPR RI, Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono (Ibas).
During his visit to Pacitan, he considered the presence of the People’s School as a real manifestation of the government’s attention to education in the region.
“Pacitan is fortunate, meaning that the government truly cares about education here. We should be grateful for this and let’s support it together,” he said.
Ibas emphasized that education is the key to national progress. He urged the public to strengthen the spirit of mutual cooperation and instill the values of unity, as embodied in the Youth Pledge.
“Our children must remain smart and have good character, because with that, the nation will progress further,” he said, greeted with enthusiasm by the community.
