Bengkulu City Government Receives Additional Student Quota for 'Sekolah Rakyat' Programme

The City Government of Bengkulu, Bengkulu Province, has received an additional student quota for the Sekolah Rakyat programme from the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs for junior high schools and senior high schools. The additional quota increases the number of primary school students from 14 to 33, junior high school students from 37 to 68, and senior high school students from 32 to 37. This increase forms part of the development of the education programme for children from underprivileged families, particularly in Bengkulu City. Confirmation of the additional quota was conveyed during the Coordination Meeting for the Optimisation of Permanent Sekolah Rakyat Development held at the Aneka Bhakti Building of the Ministry of Social Affairs in Jakarta. Nationally, a total of 93 Sekolah Rakyat locations are scheduled to begin the new academic year on 14 July 2026. Regional and central governments continue to make various preparations to ensure the programme runs according to target. The additional quota provides an opportunity for children from underprivileged families to obtain a proper, quality, and equitable education. The Bengkulu City Government hopes that more children can benefit from the Sekolah Rakyat programme so that efforts to equalise education and improve the quality of human resources can continue to be realised in the region. Coordination and collaboration between regional and central governments can support the transition process from the Pilot Sekolah Rakyat to full operation, as strong synergy is essential to ensure all stages of programme implementation run smoothly as part of the government’s priority programme to improve access to education for underprivileged communities.