Students Who Choose Public Schools Over Public Schools Say

Unlike her peers who are currently busy searching for public high schools in the new student admission system, Nur Aisah (16) has already secured a seat well in advance. She chose to continue her studies at a People's School.

Starting in July, Nur will be one of the students among 9,755 first-generation students at this school conceived by President Prabowo Subianto. They come from families in the 1st and 2nd decile groups according to the national socioeconomic single data (DTSEN) integrated with the basic education data (dapodik).

The first decile group consists of households whose welfare level is among the lowest 10 percent nationally, while the second decile group includes households ranked in the lowest 11-20 percent.

People's Schools not only provide free education and boarding facilities, but also uphold humanitarian values and family warmth.

Nur is the third child of Tukinem (48), a domestic worker who lives with her employer in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta. She feels that by becoming a student at a community school and leaving her friends at a regular school, she will be able to assist her mother, who is now struggling alone to support her two children.

"My friends do not want to (enroll in the people's school), only I do. For me, I want to be more open and socialize with friends I have just met; I hope the lessons here can guide us towards the dreams we aspire to," said Nur while expressing her ambition to become a doctor, Thursday (26/6/2025).

Tukinem did not hesitate to enroll her child in a people's school because it is a boarding school. All of the child's needs, ranging from school uniforms, shoes, accommodation, food, to health care, are guaranteed by the state.

He revealed that his income is only Rp 2 million per month, which he must manage to support his two children alone. For Nur alone, he needs to spend around Rp 100,000 per week on fuel costs for school transportation.

In addition, there are sometimes fees at school for activities such as farewell events and so on. With Nur's enrollment in the People's School, at least Tukinem no longer needs to incur those expenses and can redirect her income to other needs.

"Our economy is, after all, lower middle class; here, everything is available, they just need to learn. Parents want their children to learn so that they do not end up like them," he said.

In addition to Nur, there is also Tika Pertiwi (16) who is very grateful for the existence of this People's School program. Her father, Idin Casikin, is a construction worker whose work depends on orders from other people's projects.

"As a child from a less fortunate family, I want to change my parents' situation and make them proud," said Tika, who aspires to become a chef.

With an average income of Rp 1 million per month, living in Jakarta with three children and a wife, Idin admits that it has become difficult to bear his responsibilities as a father. The community school alleviates his burden.

"I was confused, my child was about to go to high school, but I didn't have the money to register, then there was information about this people's school, so it was okay to just stay in the dormitory," said Idin.

Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf stated that although parents will eventually live separately from their children, they need not worry as they can visit their children at the people's school dormitory, provided it does not disrupt the teaching and learning process.

He emphasized that the People's School not only provides free educational facilities and dormitories but also upholds the values of humanity and family warmth. The presence of parents will serve as an important emotional support for the growth and development of the child.

"This school is not meant to distance children from their families. On the contrary, it is a safe, suitable, and loving place where parents can remain present both emotionally and physically," said Saifullah.

On this occasion, Saifullah also emphasized that every student entering the people's school will no longer receive social assistance, such as the School Children Family Hope Program assistance amounting to Rp 225,000 every three months. This is because all of their needs are already covered at the people's school.

"That's how it should be, the system will stop it," he said.

In addition, students at the People's School will also be guaranteed their growth with healthy and nutritious food and beverages. The Ministry of Social Affairs will collaborate with the National Nutrition Agency to provide consumption in the form of free nutritious meal standards for the students of the People's School, but three times a day in the dormitory.

"Approximately, if the (people's school) is fully operational, since its full capacity is one thousand multiplied by three meals, it means, right, 3,000, that is, one kitchen," he stated.

For the first phase, the people's school will commence in 100 locations, with a total of 9,755 students, and is set to be launched on July 14. President Prabowo has requested that the locations be increased by an additional 100 new sites, accommodating more than 20,000 students, supported by 2,180 teachers and 4,069 educational staff.