Before Bali's People's School Students, Prabowo: Education is the Key to Increasing Welfare
President Prabowo Subianto has asserted that education is a key instrument for the government to guarantee a decent life and enhance the welfare of all Indonesian people. This was stated by the President during a working visit to the Sekolah Rakyat Menengah Pertama (SRMP) 17 in Tabanan, Bali, on Sunday (7/6/2026).
In his address, President Prabowo emphasised that national development efforts are essentially aimed at ensuring all citizens can enjoy a good standard of living. However, he acknowledged that achieving this requires extraordinary hard work across various sectors.
“Our development efforts as a nation are intended to ensure all Indonesian people lead good and decent lives. Realising a decent life for all requires extraordinary hard work. We must all work hard across all sectors, including education,” said President Prabowo.
The President explained that the Sekolah Rakyat programme was introduced as a tangible manifestation of the state’s commitment to fulfilling the basic rights of its citizens. The government is focusing this programme on assisting the most vulnerable and disadvantaged communities across the country.
During the visit, an emotional atmosphere prevailed as attendees listened to a testimony from Bagus, one of the Sekolah Rakyat students. Bagus shared the positive experiences and significant changes he has felt since joining the programme. Additionally, parents of prospective students expressed their gratitude, noting that the programme provides a second chance for their children to continue their education.
The event also featured various inclusive art performances, poetry readings, and an English speech delivered skillfully by a student named Ketut Arlan.
Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf, who accompanied the President, reported that public interest in the Sekolah Rakyat programme is very high. It was recorded that 406 prospective students have registered across the Bali region.
“For this phase, 93 students are in the process, including those in Karangasem Regency. Once construction is complete, students studying here will be moved to a permanent building,” explained Saifullah.
He added that the number of applications for junior high school (SMP) and senior high school (SMA) levels has exceeded the available quota, demonstrating the significant public hope for the inclusive and quality education access promoted by President Prabowo’s administration.