Indonesia to Deploy Military Cadets to Guide Students in People's Schools

Indonesia's Ministry of Social Affairs is partnering with the military to offer dormitory life guidance to students at 178 "Sekolah Rakyat" (People's Schools) across the country. Approximately 1,000 cadets from the Military Academy will participate in a five-day program, running from August 3 to 8, 2026, to mentor students in 178 locations.

“

The goal is to help children living in dormitories become more independent. They will be guided in doing simple things, like tidying closets, making beds, and getting used to neatness in uniforms.

Social Affairs Vice Minister Agus Jabo Priyono clarified that the cadets' role is not to replace teachers but to assist students with dormitory living. The focus will be on simple tasks like tidying rooms and beds, and instilling discipline in uniform adherence. This initiative aims to help students living away from their families adapt to their new environment comfortably and foster independence.

"Cadets are not teaching in classrooms like teachers. They provide guidance in the dormitory so that the students of Sekolah Rakyat can live calmly and comfortably even though they are not living with their families," Agus Jabo stated. He emphasized that the cadets will also provide training to prevent all forms of violence, including bullying or abuse from senior students.

“

Cadets are not teaching in classrooms like teachers. They provide guidance in the dormitory so that the students of Sekolah Rakyat can live calmly and comfortably even though they are not living with their families. They also provide training to prevent all forms of violence, including bullying or abuse from senior students.

The program is grounded in Presidential Instruction Number 8 of 2025, which focuses on poverty alleviation and eradicating extreme poverty. The selection of military cadets is based on their experience with dormitory life, making them suitable mentors to help students adapt quickly and develop self-reliance. Each school will receive intensive guidance from five cadets, covering essential daily life skills such as ironing uniforms, making beds, and polishing shoes.

“

Why cadets? Because they understand dormitory life. That experience is what we want to pass on to the students of Sekolah Rakyat so they can adapt quickly and have independent characters.