Commission V Urges Equitable and Targeted Distribution of Public Schools

Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) is urging the government to ensure that the development of ‘Sekolah Rakyat’ is carried out equitably and is precisely targeted. This is to ensure that children from low-income families, both in underdeveloped regions and urban areas, can be reached.

During a specific visit to a ‘Sekolah Rakyat’ in Medan, North Sumatra, on Thursday (17/09/2026), the Deputy Chairman of Commission V, Roberth Rouw, stated that the spirit of developing these schools must be directed towards small communities that have historically lacked adequate access to educational facilities.

“Furthermore, we want to convey to the government that the President’s vision for ‘Sekolah Rakyat’ is to be present in areas inhabited by small, marginalised communities. Many of our people living in poverty are in remote areas and do not receive these facilities; therefore, ‘Sekolah Rakyat’ must be present there,” he said.

He reminded the government that the development of ‘Sekolah Rakyat’ should not solely focus on chasing the number of schools built, but should instead prioritise regions and communities that are truly in need. “Let us not just chase the target of how many we must build this year, but rather find how to target those underprivileged areas; they must be our number one priority,” he added.

Roberth specifically requested that the government pay attention to the ‘3T’ regions (frontier, outermost, and least developed). He noted that the limited fiscal capacity of local governments should also be a consideration for the central government when determining the locations for school construction.

“The 3T regions must be a priority; every regency and city in the 3T areas must have them. The central government must be present. Currently, local governments face budget constraints in securing the 10-hectare land plots required,” the legislator stated.

Meanwhile, Commission V member Musa Rajekshah noted that the need for ‘Sekolah Rakyat’ is not limited to 3T regions. He observed that many low-income families in urban areas still face difficulties in providing educational access for their children.

“From what I see, it is not just in the 3T regions; it is in Medan and other regencies. The core issue is how we address this, because even in cities, there are many children who cannot access ‘Sekolah Rakyat’,” said the former Deputy Governor of North Sumatra (2018-2023).