Jakarta — Entering the first year of the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, various breakthroughs in the education sector have begun to show a clear direction that favors the underprivileged. One program now gaining positive attention is the People’s School (Sekolah Rakyat) — an initiative designed as a long-term investment to systematically break the cycle of poverty and strengthen the foundation toward Golden Indonesia 2045.
Deputy Minister of Social Affairs, Agus Jabo Priyono, emphasized that the development of the People’s School is a national priority program that requires real support from all regional leaders. He views the initiative not merely as a physical development project but as a human development strategy focused on empowering impoverished communities.
“The target of People’s School is clear: families in the first income decile — no favoritism or backdoor entries allowed. People’s School is a national priority to break the transmission of poverty through education,” said Agus Jabo. He added that the government’s policy direction is now shifting from merely providing social protection to empowering communities to become more independent and productive.
According to him, the People’s School is expected to produce a younger generation with high competitiveness and strong character, while also encouraging their families to move up the economic ladder.
“The People’s School is not just a place of learning — it’s a long-term investment to empower children, so their families no longer have to rely on social assistance,” he asserted.
Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Coordination, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of infrastructure readiness to support the program’s success. He stated that the central government will continue to ensure that educational facilities for the People’s School are built to standard and are well-targeted.
“We are seriously overseeing not just the infrastructure, but ensuring that educational facilities are physically ready, especially for underprivileged communities. This is a strategy that we hope will truly break the poverty cycle — because with the opportunity to attend school seriously and consistently, they can build a better future,” said AHY.
Meanwhile, at the regional level, governments are also beginning to take concrete steps. North Sumatra’s Head of Social Affairs Office, Asren Nasution, revealed that several locations have started developing People’s Schools by utilizing assets from both the central and regional governments. He believes this reflects genuine synergy between national and local governments in accelerating the eradication of extreme poverty through education.
“This year, the construction of People’s Schools has already begun in several locations using government assets,” explained Asren.
“The People’s School is more than just a building — it’s a long-term investment to break the poverty cycle and improve education for low-income communities,” he added.
The People’s School program has also garnered strong support from youth and student organizations. Chairman of the Jombang Branch of the Indonesian National Student Movement (GMNI), Daffa Raihananta, said the initiative reflects the government’s real commitment to marginalized communities.
“The People’s School program shows a true spirit of equity and a pro-people stance. It aligns with populist values that uphold education as a fundamental right of every citizen,” he stated.