Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stated that the establishment of Sekolah Rakyat (People’s Schools) aims to provide children from the country’s most vulnerable families with the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty.
“We are building Sekolah Rakyat — boarding schools for children from the most disadvantaged families — fully equipped with classrooms, living quarters, nutritious meals, computers, teachers, and a safe environment. The primary goal is to break the cycle of poverty,” he remarked.
The president made these remarks during his State of the Nation Address at the 2026 Annual Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the Joint Session of the House of Representatives (DPR) and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Friday.
Prabowo emphasized that a family’s economic condition must not dictate a child’s future.
He asserted that the state must intervene in accordance with Article 34 of the 1945 Constitution, which mandates that impoverished citizens and destitute children be cared for by the state.
To date, 93 permanent Sekolah Rakyat have been established, operating alongside 182 pilot schools. The president aims to expand the initiative nationwide.
“Eventually, every district will have at least one Sekolah Rakyat,” he stated.
During his address, Prabowo highlighted the stories of several students who have benefited from the program.
Among them is 12-year-old Muhammad Risky Pratama, who had to sell fish dozens of kilometers from his home to support his family.
Risky eventually dropped out of the formal education system. When he first enrolled in a Sekolah Rakyat, he struggled with basic literacy and numeracy.
“Today, Risky has returned to school and regained his fundamental right to learn and pursue his dreams. There is no investment more valuable than restoring a child’s future,” the head of state remarked.
The president also shared the story of Citra Nur Ramadhani from Pangkajene Regency, South Sulawesi Province.
Citra nearly dropped out in the fourth grade to help her disabled mother sell peanuts following her father’s death.
Given the opportunity to continue her education at a Sekolah Rakyat, Citra thrived and recently became the runner-up in a regional karate championship.
Furthermore, the head of state noted that seven Sekolah Rakyat students from Makassar, South Sulawesi, recently earned top honors at the 15th Indonesian National Olympiad, excelling in mathematics, biology, Indonesian language, history, and sociology.
He also commended Ismi Ulfaida from Polewali Mandar Regency, West Sulawesi Province, who was selected to join the prestigious national flag-hoisting troop (Paskibraka) for the Independence Day ceremony at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on August 17.
According to the president, these milestones prove that students from the most underprivileged backgrounds can achieve extraordinary success when provided with adequate opportunities, facilities, and mentorship.
“We will not leave a single Indonesian child behind,” Prabowo concluded.
Translator: Fathur Rochman, Uyu Liman
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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