53 Public Schools to Start in July 2025

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - President Prabowo Subianto is preparing community schools that will begin operating in July 2025. A total of 53 community schools are being prepared. The estimated cost is Rp 100 billion for each school. Preparations for the implementation of community schools were discussed in a closed meeting led by President Prabowo Subianto at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Monday afternoon (10/3/2025).

Present at this meeting were, among others, the Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar, the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno, the Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti, the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto, the Minister of Public Works Dodi Hanggodo, the Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati, and the Minister of State Apparatus Utilization Rini Widyantini.

Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf, after the meeting, stated that as of now, there are already 53 locations ready for the establishment of community schools. In the coming days, he estimates that this number could continue to increase.

"In principle, the President has requested that what we have planned continue to be refined, followed up, and as many regions as possible participate in this initial opportunity," said Saifullah to reporters.

The President asked us to continue consolidating as strongly as possible and to the best of our ability. This is part of honoring underprivileged families while also encouraging the empowerment of the common people toward the upcoming Golden Indonesia of 2045.

There are 33 service centers and six halls managed by the Ministry of Social Affairs, one polytechnic, as well as one center for education and training in professional development that can soon be repurposed into community schools. These facilities can accommodate up to 2,500 students.

In addition, there are two other universities, namely Universitas Brawijaya Malang and Universitas Negeri Surabaya (Unesa), that are also participating in this program. Meanwhile, ten other locations have been proposed by local governments in West Java, East Java, Banten, DKI, DI Yogyakarta, and West Sumatra.

Meanwhile, public school students will consist of children from Decile 1 and Decile 2 of the National Socio-Economic Single Data (DTSEN) groups, who are the people with the most vulnerable economic conditions.

Head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti said that the 53 locations that have been selected are mostly in areas that need schools and have a high number of underprivileged people. "So this is very much in line with the data available at BPS," she said.

The plan is that this people's school must meet the requirements of a school, including a dormitory for students to live in, classrooms, a place of worship, a canteen, and sports facilities.

"Yes, that's why, what I call 53 is because it is considered that the dormitory or the building is sufficient. The building is sufficient, there is for school, there is for dormitory, there is for place of worship, there is a place to eat, there is a place for sports, and other things that are needed," said Amalia.

Budget needs and renovation plans are still being worked on. "The President asked us to continue consolidating, as hard as we can and as much as we can. This is part of honoring poor families and at the same time encouraging the rise of the little people to happen towards the Golden Indonesia of 2045," said Saifullah.

Separately, Muhaimin added, the budget allocation for public schools depends on the needs of each location. "On average, it's Rp100 billion for one school," he said.

For this public school, according to Abdul Mu'ti after the meeting, around 60,000 teachers are needed. For teacher recruitment, the most appropriate scheme is still being sought, namely whether to distribute existing teachers or conduct new recruitment.

The curriculum in public schools has also not been determined. There are two curriculum options used, namely the current school curriculum or the superior school curriculum handled by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology.

Excellent schools use international standards, while the curriculum handled by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is the same as that currently applicable in Indonesia.

This people's school, Saifullah added, will be a free school. Students will be free of tuition fees, book fees, uniform and meal fees. However, school interest and ability are required through advanced academic tests for students with low economic ability. In the future, this people's school will be held starting from elementary school, junior high school, to high school.