Parents weep with joy at Indonesia's new 'People's School' for the poor

Tears of joy and heartfelt gratitude filled the dining hall of the Indonesian Aviation Polytechnic in Curug, Banten, as parents of students from the "Sekolah Rakyat Terintegrasi 8" (Integrated People's School 8) in Tangerang shared their emotions. The school's unique orientation program, designed not just as a ceremony but as a turning point, is preparing dozens of children from underprivileged backgrounds for a new future. Siti Yuliana, a mother from North Jakarta whose husband works as a daily laborer, tearfully recounted the financial struggles that had threatened her daughter Putri Nurdiyanah's educational dreams. She expressed her full consent for her daughter to live in the dormitory, stating, "I am willing for my child to be in the dormitory under the guidance of teachers and dorm parents." This commitment from parents reflects the transformative policy championed by the Ministry of Social Affairs under Minister Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul). The "Sekolah Rakyat" (People's School) initiative, a concept directly from President Prabowo, is the first of its kind since Indonesia's independence. It specifically targets families facing extreme poverty who have been left behind by development. "Sekolah Rakyat is a direct idea from President Prabowo, held for the first time since Indonesia's independence, where this People's School is intended for the most impoverished families who have not yet been included in development," explained Gus Ipul. The program aims to dismantle the stigma that quality education is inaccessible to the poor. Through its boarding school model, students receive not only formal curriculum education but also character building, ethics, and positive life habit guidance throughout the day and into the evening. Early successes are evident, with students like Misfan Nazriel Faturrahman, who previously struggled with reading, now confidently acting as an MC in both Indonesian and English. Children who were not fluent readers upon entering the first grade of high school are now showing remarkable academic progress. The Ministry of Social Affairs, in collaboration with central and regional governments, is implementing a "gotong royong" (mutual cooperation) scheme. Regional governments are facilitating land provision, while the Ministry of Public Works is handling permanent construction using the state budget. The initial phase aims to build 100 permanent "Sekolah Rakyat" sites.

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I am willing for my child to be in the dormitory under the guidance of teachers and dorm parents.