Indonesia Accelerates Development of Permanent Sekolah Rakyat

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Ministry of Social Affairs, together with 66 local governments from provinces across the country, is accelerating efforts to secure land and fulfill various requirements for the construction of permanent Sekolah Rakyat schools. The efforts were discussed during a coordination meeting on the implementation of Sekolah Rakyat held at the Ministry of Social Affairs’ Aneka Bhakti Building in Jakarta on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf, said Sekolah Rakyat is an initiative of President Prabowo Subianto aimed at supporting the country’s poorest families. Local governments play an important role in providing land, while construction is being carried out collaboratively with relevant ministries and government agencies.

“This is a gift from the President to the poorest families. The budget comes from the state budget under the President’s direction. The Ministry of Social Affairs has been tasked with the construction, with support from other ministries and agencies, including local governments,” Saifullah Yusuf said, as quoted from an official statement.

According to Gus Ipul, securing land is one of the challenges in accelerating the construction of Sekolah Rakyat. Proposed land must not only be available but also meet various requirements to ensure construction is carried out properly and in accordance with regulations.

“In practice, providing land is not easy. There are many requirements that must be fulfilled through proper, orderly, and prudent processes,” he said.

The coordination meeting therefore served as a forum to address various issues faced by local governments, including land affairs, spatial planning, environmental considerations, and other technical requirements.

The Ministry of Social Affairs brought local governments together with ministries and agencies involved in fulfilling construction requirements, including the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency, the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Transportation.

Gus Ipul said construction of permanent Sekolah Rakyat schools is underway at 104 locations across Indonesia. The development is part of efforts to provide proper boarding-school facilities for children from poor and vulnerable families.

“Construction is already underway at 104 locations. There are indeed some obstacles where the land cannot be developed, even though funding has already been allocated. But these 104 locations have been budgeted for and construction will proceed,” Gus Ipul said.

He noted that construction progress in several areas has reached 98 to 99 percent, while work at other locations is still ongoing.

Meanwhile, data presented at the meeting showed that 81 pilot Sekolah Rakyat schools are currently active across various regions. The government is working to ensure that these pilot schools can continue operating and eventually receive permanent facilities so that students’ education is not disrupted.

“We hope those of you who have established pilot schools will work hard to ensure that students receive quality education,” Gus Ipul said.

Sekolah Rakyat is a boarding-based education system that provides integrated formal education at primary and/or secondary levels for students from poor, extremely poor, and/or vulnerable families. Its organizational structure and operational procedures have also been regulated through a Minister of Social Affairs regulation.

Gus Ipul stressed that the development of Sekolah Rakyat is not merely about constructing new buildings, but is part of the government’s effort to provide children who have previously lacked proper access to education with greater opportunities.

Sekolah Rakyat is designed as a boarding school equipped with comprehensive educational and supporting facilities. Students receive education, care, and basic necessities throughout their schooling.

“Indeed, these schools are for the poorest, but they are provided with facilities. In some respects, the facilities may even be above the average of many schools. With such extensive land, impressive buildings, and comprehensive facilities, this is how the state honors the poor and those who have not previously been fully included in the development process,” Gus Ipul said.

He said this approach is important because poverty cannot be addressed solely through temporary social assistance. Children from poor families need opportunities to learn and grow, while their families continue to receive integrated social support.

“Breaking the cycle of poverty cannot be achieved simply by providing temporary assistance. What is needed is an opportunity to learn and grow,” he said.

Gus Ipul also expressed appreciation to local governments that have worked to provide land and support the construction of Sekolah Rakyat. He said challenges arising in the field must be addressed through collaboration rather than being placed on a single party.

“Thank you to the regencies and cities that have worked tremendously hard, allowing Sekolah Rakyat buildings to finally be established,” he said.

He acknowledged that fulfilling land and construction requirements is not always easy. However, he urged local governments not to give up in the face of administrative and technical challenges.

“I know you have challenges on the ground. I know each of you faces your own difficulties. But I believe that, as a government, we can overcome all of them,” Gus Ipul said.

The coordination meeting was attended by representatives from 66 local governments across seven provinces that still have outstanding requirements to fulfill: West Java, East Java, Maluku, West Nusa Tenggara, Central Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, and Riau. The Ministry of Social Affairs is encouraging the completion of these requirements in collaboration with relevant ministries and agencies.

“Your presence here is a noble task, an extraordinarily noble task. Let us fulfill all the requirements,” Gus Ipul concluded.