RRI.CO.ID, Surabaya – The Indonesian government has confirmed support from the State Budget (APBN) to fund the People’s School (Sekolah Rakyat) program as a step toward expanding access to education. This assurance was conveyed by Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa while visiting the Integrated People’s School 2 in Surabaya, East Java, on Saturday, 1 August 2026.

The Finance Minister emphasized that the Ministry of Finance plays a crucial role in ensuring the availability of funding for this flagship program of President Prabowo Subianto. This budget allocation is intended to open up broader learning opportunities for children from low-income families.

“I’ve been instructed to provide funding for the People’s Schools. Study hard, so you can become a minister or a prosperous person,” Purbaya told the students, as quoted in a ministry press release on Monday, 3 August 2026.

Purbaya shared this motivational message to encourage students to take advantage of these educational facilities to improve their standard of living in the future. He added that investment in education is a key step toward developing human resources capable of competing on a global scale.

“So this is Mr. Prabowo’s program. I hope you all become knowledgeable people,” he encouraged.

This integrated facility in Surabaya is being built on a 6.6-hectare site with a contract value of Rp3.52 trillion or $195.5 million. To date, funding for the project, which includes elementary through high school levels as well as dormitories, has reached Rp3.21 trillion or $178,6 million.

The availability of these educational facilities is expected to strengthen the foundation for Indonesia’s human resource development leading up to 2045. Through sustained budgetary support, the government is optimistic that it can foster a new generation of intelligent and competitive leaders.