Central Java's 'Sekolah Rakyat' Programme Enrols 2,692 Students

The Central Java Provincial Government has announced that its Sekolah Rakyat (People’s Schools) programme now accommodates 2,692 students spread across 10 permanent Sekolah Rakyat and six pilot Sekolah Rakyat in the region. Central Java Deputy Governor Taj Yasin Maimoen assessed the programme as a strategic step to break the poverty chain while reducing school dropout rates. “Sekolah Rakyat is a way to break the poverty chain. Because however you look at it, the poverty rate in Central Java is still relatively high,” he said in Semarang on Wednesday. He made the statement while receiving the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) Deputy for Prevention and Monitoring team during a discussion on the planning and implementation of the Sekolah Rakyat Programme in Central Java Province. He affirmed the Central Java Provincial Government’s commitment to continue overseeing the Sekolah Rakyat programme as it is part of the government’s effort to provide educational access for children from poor and extremely poor families. Furthermore, the figure familiarly known as Gus Yasin said that Central Java already has experience managing boarding schools for students from underprivileged families. There are currently three full boarding schools in Pati Regency, Semarang Regency, and Purbalingga, as well as 15 semi-boarding schools. “With the Sekolah Rakyat Programme, we are certainly pleased, because it is in line with the pilot projects we have been running for the past 10 years,” he said. Meanwhile, Head of the Central Java Social Affairs Office Imam Maskur said the 2,692 students enrolled in Sekolah Rakyat for the 2026/2027 academic year consist of 380 primary school students, 1,038 junior high school students, and 1,274 senior high school students. They are spread across 10 permanent Sekolah Rakyat located in Pati, Banyumas, Wonosobo, Sragen, Jepara, Brebes, Cilacap, Sukoharjo, and Rembang regencies, as well as Semarang City. In addition, six pilot Sekolah Rakyat are also operating in Banjarnegara, Temanggung, Blora, Magelang, Magelang Regency, and Kebumen. He explained that student admissions for junior and senior high school levels have almost entirely met their quotas. However, admissions for Sekolah Rakyat Dasar (primary level) still face challenges because many parents are not ready to let their six- to seven-year-old children live in dormitories. To optimise school capacity, he added, the Ministry of Social Affairs has issued a policy allowing unfilled primary school quotas to be converted into additional classes at the junior and senior high school levels.