Some 44,200 children from poor household attend Sekolah Rakyat: Gov’t

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3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar informed that 44,200 children from poor and vulnerable families are now attending Sekolah Rakyat (People’s School).

“Compared to six months ago, the children attending Sekolah Rakyat have changed. They have higher motivation and are no longer traumatic,” he said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

According to him, before enrolling in Sekolah Rakyat, some children had faced various social challenges and difficult circumstances in their lives.

Now, they have the opportunity to pursue an education, develop their potential, and build a better future, the minister remarked.

However, Iskandar emphasized the need for a special approach for children with complex experiences and social backgrounds.

He underlined the need to strengthen mentoring to ensure that children’s progress extends beyond the school environment and provides a foundation for a better quality of life.

He added that the Sekolah Rakyat program aims not only to prepare children for the future but also to empower parents to improve their families’ economic well-being and break the cycle of poverty.

Parental empowerment is directed through the LAKSMI (Micro Social Capacity Action Steps for Inclusion) program, where parents will be equipped with education and new skills to increase productivity and build family economic independence.

“The children learn, the parents gain new skills. Hopefully, this year we will succeed. The children go to school with a bright future, and the parents become independent and productive individuals,” Iskandar noted.

He addressed this approach as part of an effort to link social protection with empowerment.

He informed that currently, 28.8 million poor families continue to receive social assistance and protection through the Ministry of Social Affairs’ collaboration with relevant ministries and institutions.

Iskandar emphasized that such assistance must be complemented by empowerment initiatives to support families in improving their welfare and reduce their reliance on government aid.