Public Schools to Start July 14, 2025

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The implementation of the first phase of the people's school program has entered the finalization stage. The teaching and learning activities at the boarding school, conceived by President Prabowo Subianto, are scheduled to commence on July 14, 2025.

Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf stated that 100 initial People's Schools utilizing assets from the Ministry of Social Affairs in various regions have been renovated for classrooms and student dormitories. The initial People's Schools encompass 395 learning groups across various levels (elementary, junior high, and senior high school) distributed across 100 locations.

Java Island has the highest number of locations with 48, followed by Sumatra (22), Sulawesi (15), Bali-Nusa Tenggara, Kalimantan, and Maluku (each with 4), and Papua (3 points). In total, there are 9,755 students, with 1,554 teachers, and 3,390 educational staff.

"That is all finished. This means it is in the finalization process. The teachers, the students, and other components will be completed by the end of June. The plan is to start the learning process on July 14," said Saifullah at the People's School in Sentra Handayani, East Jakarta, Sunday (29/6/2025).

At the Handayani People's School in East Jakarta, the renovation process includes replacing the roof, painting the walls of the rooms that will be used for classrooms and dormitories, restoring the sports field, as well as providing chairs and study tables.

On average throughout Indonesia (renovation progress) is already 83 percent.

In the future, one room will accommodate four students. The equipment in the room, such as bunk beds complete with wardrobes and study tables, has been prepared in the dormitory. A dining area has also been set up in the central area of the people's school complex, which will later be operated by the National Nutrition Agency.

Therefore, according to Saifullah, this people's school is scheduled to be inaugurated directly by President Prabowo Subianto. In addition, Prabowo will also provide training to the school principals, teachers, and students before commencing the teaching and learning activities.

"We have just requested the President to provide training for the school principals and teachers as well as to officially launch the grassroots schools initiative for the year 2025," he stated.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Public Works, Dody Hanggodo, revealed that the total cost of renovating assets owned by the Ministry of Social Affairs to be transformed into 100 community schools in the first phase amounts to IDR 1.2 trillion. All renovations are classified as light and moderate.

"On average throughout Indonesia (the renovation progress) has reached 83 percent. The old thing is the furniture, because some have to be customized because the needs in each place are different," said Dody.

Regarding the building facilities for students with disabilities, Dody stated that indeed the public school buildings have not yet accommodated the needs of students with special requirements. These facilities will only be constructed if there are disabled students in accordance with their needs.

"But not all schools or locations have people with disabilities. So it's a case by case basis," he said.

Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya added that this school aims to break the cycle of poverty through education. To this end, the program is specifically designated for children from poor and extremely poor families, who fall within the 1st and 2nd deciles of the National Socio-Economic Data (DTSEN).

"This people's school aims to develop children to be healthier, to receive better quality education, to be safer, to be more protected, and to be more prosperous," said Teddy.

The first decile group consists of households that fall within the lowest 10 percent of welfare levels nationally, while the second decile group includes households ranked in the 11th to 20th lowest percent.

In addition to the initial 100 points of community schools, the government is also preparing the next wave of community schools, utilizing 122 Vocational Training Centers (BLK) from the Ministry of Manpower and 45 buildings owned by local governments. The target for the next phase includes 424 class groups, involving 10,600 students, 2,180 teachers, and 4,069 educational staff.

In addition to educating their children in community schools, parents will also be empowered through cross-ministerial empowerment programs and the improvement of their uninhabitable homes. According to data from the Ministry of Social Affairs, the majority of the parents of students in community schools earn between Rp 1 million and Rp 2 million per month and work in the informal sector.

Irwan, one of the parents of prospective students at the community school, expressed that he is greatly assisted by this community school program. A porter in the warehouse area of Kapuk, West Jakarta, he no longer needs to worry about the educational expenses for his child, Muhamad Cikal (13), as all costs are covered by the community school.

"My income is uncertain, sometimes it is Rp 70,000-80,000 per day. God willing, this can help me and my family, because my wife and I are elementary school graduates, my child should not be," said Irwan.