77 neglected children in Jakarta to continue education at Sekolah Rakyat
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Social Affairs has screened 77 neglected and out-of-school children in the Jakarta area and its surroundings to continue their education through the Sekolah Rakyat programme.
Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf stated that the programme represents special attention from President Prabowo Subianto to provide quality education opportunities for underprivileged families.
“We want to give special attention to underprivileged families so they can obtain quality education opportunities in a conducive environment through this Sekolah Rakyat,” he said during a dialogue with prospective Sekolah Rakyat students alongside Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya at the LAN Office complex in Jakarta on Wednesday.
In the event, the Ministry of Social Affairs presented 77 prospective students with diverse educational backgrounds, ranging from dropouts at the primary school level, SMP graduates who did not proceed to SMA, to those who dropped out midway through SMA.
“There are those who only completed fifth grade of primary school, and those who dropped out in first grade of SMP. They are accompanied by their biological parents or guardians for orphaned children,” he said.
Saifullah explained that the prospective students were obtained through direct field screenings and then matched to the National Single Social-Economic Data (DTSEN), most of whom are school-age children who instead work or beg.
“President has invited us to be honest that there are still our brothers and sisters who cannot go to school. Let us welcome this honesty with enthusiasm to succeed Sekolah Rakyat so that its graduates become future leaders,” he said.
Sekolah Rakyat is one of President Prabowo Subianto’s priority programmes to provide free and quality education access for children from the lowest welfare levels (Deciles 1-4) in the National Single Social-Economic Data (DTSEN).
This programme is designed as an integrated poverty alleviation model by combining various flagship government programmes such as Free Health Checks (CKG), Free Nutritious Meals (MBG), PBI-JK health insurance, Red and White Village/Urban Village Cooperatives, and the 3 Million Houses Programme for beneficiary student families.
As the technical implementer, the Ministry of Social Affairs reported that there are currently 166 pilot Sekolah Rakyat sites spread across 38 provinces, with a capacity of 15,900 students, supported by 2,400 teachers and more than 4,000 educational personnel at primary, secondary, and high school levels or equivalents.