178 'People's Schools' to Accommodate 48,972 Students in New Academic Year 2026/2027

The Ministry of Social Affairs has recorded that 178 People’s Schools will be fully operational for the new academic year starting in July 2026. Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf stated that the 178 schools consist of 93 permanent schools, 77 pilot schools from 2025, and 8 new pilot schools for 2026. Regarding physical readiness, the minister, familiarly known as Gus Ipul, said 69 locations have been completed and 24 others are already functional. “Some remain in the pilot schools, but others will use permanent buildings. Therefore, good collaboration and coordination are needed so that we can navigate this transition period smoothly,” he said, as quoted from a press release on Friday (19/6/2026). A total of 48,975 prospective students have been reached by the People’s School programme, surpassing the initial quota of 32,640 students, amidst construction progress of the 93 permanent schools which has now reached 78.75 percent. Of the total 48,975 registered children, the majority come from the most vulnerable groups, with 85.8 percent being recipients of the Family Hope Programme (PKH) and 77.6 percent from the lowest two income deciles according to the National Socio-Economic Data (DTSEN), including some children who had never previously attended school. “What we are observing is not just academic achievement, but the transformation of these children. They are now much healthier, more disciplined, more confident, and have hope for the future,” Gus Ipul said. Entering the transition period towards full operations, Gus Ipul stated that the role of regional governments is crucial, especially in student selection, forming transition teams, and providing support for teaching staff and community outreach. “We may still face a shortage of teaching staff in new locations. Therefore, we need assistance from the regions, temporary teachers for this initial phase,” he said. The government has also established seven acceleration steps leading up to the start of the new academic year on 14 July, ranging from student selection and community outreach to the mobilisation of teachers and students. With limited time remaining, the speed of regional government response is a key factor. “These seven steps are already locked into the schedule. What we can control is the speed of the regional government’s response at each stage,” Gus Ipul said. Beyond technical readiness, the government emphasises the importance of a safety net for students, encompassing health services, psychological support, social assistance, and school environmental security.