Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf, known as Gus Ipul, outlined the\ndevelopments in the Sekolah Rakyat programme during a government press\nconference held at the Auditorium of the Government Communication Agency\nin Central Jakarta on Wednesday, 6 May 2026.<\/p>\n
The event formed part of the presentation of cross-sectoral\ngovernment programme achievements, including the Free Health Check (CKG)\nprogramme in schools, tuberculosis (TB) management, and strengthening\neducational access for vulnerable groups.<\/p>\n
In his presentation, Gus Ipul stressed that Sekolah Rakyat is\ndesigned as a strategic government effort to break the chain of poverty\nthrough education. The programme targets children from low-income\nfamilies who have previously lacked proper access to education.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe designed Sekolah Rakyat as an effort to cut the chain of poverty.\nThe state must be present for those who have been invisible until now,\u201d\nhe stated.<\/p>\n
The programme is implemented based on the constitutional mandate,\nparticularly Article 34 of the 1945 Constitution, which affirms the\nstate\u2019s obligation to support the poor and neglected children.<\/p>\n
Data indicates that the majority of Sekolah Rakyat students come from\nfamilies in deciles 1 and 2 of the National Social and Economic Single\nData (DTSEN). Around 60 per cent of parents work as labourers or daily\nwage earners, 67 per cent earn less than Rp1 million per month, and 65\nper cent have more than four dependents. Even some students have never\nattended school or have dropped out due to highly vulnerable social\nconditions.<\/p>\n
Unlike regular schools, student admissions are conducted through\nactive outreach based on data, field verification, dialogue with\nparents, and determination by local governments. For the 2026 academic\nyear, the government targets the admission of 32,640 new students.<\/p>\n
Currently, Sekolah Rakyat operates in 166 pilot locations across 34\nprovinces and 131 regencies\/cities, with more than 14,936 students\nenrolled.<\/p>\n
After running for more than nine months, Gus Ipul noted significant\nchanges among the students in terms of health, character, and\nacademics.<\/p>\n
In terms of health, students who previously suffered from\nmalnutrition, anaemia, and low fitness now show improvements. Their\nweight and height have increased, physical condition is fitter, and\nconcentration in learning has improved.<\/p>\n
\u201cA healthy child has a much better opportunity to learn,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
On the character front, students exhibit positive behavioural changes\nsuch as greater discipline, confidence, independence, and better living\nhabits. Parental testimonials also indicate that children are now more\ndiligent in worship, accustomed to waking up early, less dependent on\ngadgets, and beginning to help their families.<\/p>\n
\u201cSekolah Rakyat not only changes one child but restores hope in an\nentire family,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n
In academics, in 2026 Sekolah Rakyat will graduate its first 453\nstudents from primary, secondary, and high school levels. Graduates will\nbe directed to continue education or enter the workforce as skilled\nworkers according to their interests and potentials.<\/p>\n
Student achievements are also emerging. One example is the\nsecond-place win in the Senkaido Open International Karate Championship\nSeries 7 in 2025. Additionally, 162 students have achieved\nnational-level accolades, 87 at the provincial level, and 75 at the\nregency\/city level.<\/p>\n
Gus Ipul assured that the entire programme implementation is\nconducted transparently and accountably in accordance with applicable\nregulations.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Head of the Government Communication Agency Mohammad\nQodari emphasised the importance of early health interventions through\nschools.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough schools, the state is present to ensure all children receive\nequal basic services, so potential health problems can be detected and\naddressed more quickly,\u201d he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/peoples-school-initiative-boosts-student-health-and-achievements-1778183877", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }