Vice Minister Oversees 'Sekolah Rakyat' Construction for Underprivileged Children

The development of permanent "Sekolah Rakyat" (People's Schools) is actively progressing across several Indonesian regions, aiming to ensure free educational access for children from underprivileged families. Construction is ongoing in Kuantan Singingi and Polewali Mandar, with land acquisition processes underway in Probolinggo.

During a meeting with Vice Minister of Social Affairs Agus Jabo Priyono in Jakarta, local officials, including Probolinggo Deputy Regent Lora Fahmi, Acting Regent of Kuantan Singingi Muklisin, and Chairman of the Polewali Mandar DPRD Fahry Fadly, presented their progress reports. Vice Minister Priyono stressed the necessity of regional government collaboration to support the "Sekolah Rakyat" program, from land proposal and physical construction to educational implementation.

"You just manage it. I ask for your help, regents and your staff, to support the principal and the needs of the school," Priyono urged. He further explained that President Prabowo initiated "Sekolah Rakyat" as a strategy to interrupt the transmission of poverty, stating, "He does not want children to be poor just because their parents are poor. 'Sekolah Rakyat' is the way to graduate our poor brothers and sisters through education."

In Kuantan Singingi, the permanent school building has reached 90% completion and is slated to begin operations by mid-August, with the school orientation period scheduled from August 18-28 and matriculation on August 31. The project in Polewali Mandar is being built on 6.5 hectares of land donated by the Regent, Samsul Mahmud. Polewali Mandar's "Sekolah Rakyat" is one of two in West Sulawesi province, the other being in Mamuju. Unlike the progress in Kuantan Singingi and Polewali Mandar, the "Sekolah Rakyat" construction in Probolinggo faced delays due to land acquisition challenges.