Indonesian Vice Minister Pushes for Faster People's Schools in Remote Areas

Indonesian Vice Minister of Social Affairs Agus Jabo Priyono met with the Teluk Wondama Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) in Jakarta to discuss accelerating the development of People's Schools and optimizing the use of national socio-economic data in remote areas.

The DPRD delegation, led by Deputy Chairman II Soleman JP Karubui, sought guidance on how to encourage the local government to address the needs of indigenous communities in remote areas, particularly regarding housing and basic services. Karubui expressed the DPRD's initiative to directly assess the situation due to perceived slowness from the executive branch, stating, "Our people are also waiting."

Priyono explained that proposals for programs like the Remote Indigenous Community (KAT) and People's Schools must be submitted by the local government through the regent and relevant technical agencies. He stressed the importance of the DPRD's role in urging the executive to map and submit these needs comprehensively. "There must be a proposal, sir. And it must come from the Regional Government. You should call the Regent, along with the Social Services and related agencies, so they can submit what the community needs there," Priyono advised.

Priyono also highlighted the critical role of the National Single Socio-Economic Data (DTSEN) as the foundation for all social interventions, from central to regional poverty alleviation programs, social assistance, health insurance (PBI-JK), People's Schools, and KAT. He warned that programs not based on DTSEN would face issues. The Ministry of Social Affairs is tasked with updating DTSEN, with social assistance and basic needs data updated quarterly and health insurance data monthly due to its dynamic nature. Priyono also noted that Teluk Wondama has an underutilized quota of approximately 15,000 participants for PBI-JK, which could be further optimized.