The Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) will operate people's schools in the new academic year 2025/2026. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said that he is working to break the chain of poverty through a boarding school program specifically for children from the most disadvantaged families.
In his speech during an event with retired TNI-Polri (Indonesian National Armed Forces and National Police) officers at Balai Kartini, Jakarta, on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, the Head of State mentioned that the program will begin in July 2025.
"Usually in every country, boarding schools are for the brightest children, and we will continue to run that. But this one is specifically for families who are truly unable," he said, as quoted from Antara.
The President mentioned that this program aims to build a minimum of 100 boarding schools every year. He also emphasized the importance of courage in breaking the cycle of poverty.
"If the father is a scavenger, the child should not become a scavenger. If the father is a pedicab driver, the child does not need to become a pedicab driver. We have to be brave first, then right, and then successful," he said.
People's schools are one of Prabowo's initiatives with the Ministry of Social Affairs as its responsible body. The main goal is to provide free and quality education for children from underprivileged families to break the cycle of poverty.
Selection Phase for Prospective Students of People's School Begins
Gus Ipul stated that the administrative selection phase for prospective students of people's schools in the region has begun. These people's schools cater to elementary school (SD), junior high school (SMP), and high school (SMA) levels.
"And, based on the President's directives, they can accommodate approximately 1,000 students," he said in South Lampung Regency, Lampung, on Monday, May 12, 2025.
He stated that all prospective students of people's schools must be included in the Single Data on Social and Economic Status (DTSEN) and be in decile 1, or in the household group with the lowest level of welfare.
"The administrative selection process for prospective students of people's schools in the region has begun. Today, we have visited one of the student candidates in Bandar Lampung. So, these student candidates are initially recorded, and then there will be visits to the students' homes by PKH (Family Hope Program) assistants, regency/city or provincial social services, as well as the Central Statistics Agency (BPS)," he said.
The Secretary General of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) explained that once all the administrative processes and field surveys are completed and approved, the regional heads will sign for the prospective students to be officially designated as students of people's schools by the Ministry of Social Affairs.
"In the recruitment process for students of people's schools, for student candidates who have passed the administrative selection and field survey, it will be followed by a health check, and then the admission process will proceed as usual," he said.
He mentioned that the learning in people's schools will begin in July 2025, followed by a matriculation period and orientation to replace academic tests.
"Because there are no academic tests, only administrative selection and health checks. Later, students will be introduced to learn more about the school's educational methods. At the very least, they will be strengthened in English and mathematics before the learning process begins, and the curriculum will be developed by the Ministry of Education and Culture," he said.
A Total of 65 People's Schools Ready to Operate This Year
On that occasion, the Minister of Social Affairs mentioned that a total of 65 locations in Indonesia are ready to hold people's school programs to help the most economically disadvantaged households obtain education.
"This year, the people's school program will commence. Yesterday, there were 53 locations that were ready. But now, there are additions to several locations, so there are a total of 65 locations," he said.
He explained that currently at several locations where people's schools are being held, surveys of buildings and facilities are being conducted to ensure that everything is suitable for use. "These people's schools are based on the President's directives, and the implementation is all supported by the state budget. So the students who study here are all studying for free," he said.
Gus Ipul continued that they are currently finalizing all the planning and simultaneously starting the recruitment process for school principals, teachers, education staff, and prospective students of people's schools.
"Now, the social services together with the Ministry of Education and Culture are starting to map out teacher and school principal candidates in Bandar Lampung and its surroundings, while we also visit the homes of the student candidates' parents. This is done simultaneously while waiting for feasibility tests by the Ministry of Public Works," he said.
According to him, later on, school principals, teachers, and educational staff will be prioritized to come from the local area. "After all the proposals, feasibility processes, and people's school preparation processes are completed, then the students can start schooling," he added.
One of the areas that is almost ready to implement learning through the people's school program, he said, is Lampung, using the building of the Provincial Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM) of Lampung as a temporary learning location.
Gus Ipul said that efforts will be made to provide scholarships for graduates of people's schools. They aim for the students to pursue their future according to their interests. "Some may go on to higher education, and some may be directed to work, all according to the students' choices," he said.
As for the Vice Governor of Lampung, Jihan Nurlela, she said that the implementation of people's schools in Lampung will begin with 100 students. "In the academic year 2025/2026, preparations have been made for four study groups (rombel), with one group containing 25 students and a total of 100 students," she said in South Lampung, Monday.
She mentioned that the initial learning at the people's school will focus on the high school level first, before being extended to the junior high and elementary levels. "For the first year, learning will be conducted in the building owned by the Provincial Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM) of Lampung, which today is proposed to the central government," she said.
She explained that the Lampung Provincial Government is still awaiting confirmation from the central government regarding the location for building the people's school, offered as a 10-hectare empty land in Kota Baru, South Lampung Regency.
Dede Leni Mardianti and Antara contributed to the writing of this article.
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