Deputy Social Affairs Minister Agus Jabo: Sekolah Rakyat Pupils Admitted Without Academic Selection
Deputy Social Affairs Minister (Wamensos) Agus Jabo Priyono has affirmed that recruitment of pupils for the Sekolah Rakyat (People’s Schools) programme does not involve academic selection but is instead based on the economic circumstances of their families. The statement was made when he received a delegation led by the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Brebes Regional Legislative Council (DPRD), Mokhammad Taufiq and Iqbal Tanjung, at the Deputy Minister’s office in the Ministry of Social Affairs building in Central Jakarta on Thursday (19 February).
“There is no academic selection. The point is that these are poor people. If they are poor, they are eligible to enter the Sekolah Rakyat. If they are ill, the Ministry of Social Affairs must treat them first, and once they have recovered, enrol them in the Sekolah Rakyat,” said Agus Jabo in a written statement on Thursday (19 February 2026).
He explained that the selection process is carried out through outreach to children from poor and extremely poor families classified in deciles 1 and 2 of the National Single Social and Economic Database (DTSEN). This policy is in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to dignify disadvantaged communities and to ensure the recruitment process is free from nepotism.
“The Chairman must not put forward favourites, the Deputy Chairman must not put forward favourites, and neither can I. However, if there are many poor people in your area, please propose them. The Ministry of Social Affairs will make the final determination. Once the data comes in, we will conduct field verification to confirm whether it is accurate,” he explained.
The Sekolah Rakyat is a boarding school programme covering primary, lower secondary and upper secondary levels, equipped with various facilities including sports fields, libraries, classrooms and three nutritious meals per day. Each pupil receives eight sets of uniforms and a laptop to support their learning.
Agus Jabo added that should a Sekolah Rakyat be established in Brebes, the pupils, teachers and headteachers recruited would be prioritised from Brebes itself.
“If it is in Brebes, the pupils must be from Brebes, from deciles 1 and 2. The teachers will also be prioritised from Brebes, including the headteacher. Each city and regency will eventually have its own,” he added.
Beyond academic education and character building, the Sekolah Rakyat programme also provides continued mentoring for its graduates, whether they proceed to higher education or enter the workforce. The Ministry of Social Affairs has established partnerships with various ministries, including the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Manpower, and the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI).
“So, for instance, if they have graduated from upper secondary school but do not yet wish to continue to higher education, they can go straight into employment to help lift their parents out of poverty. We are simply ensuring that upon completing upper secondary school, they must either continue studying or work,” said Agus Jabo.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman I of the Brebes DPRD, Iqbal Tanjung, expressed his support for the establishment of a Sekolah Rakyat in the region.
“Our hope is that with the Sekolah Rakyat, children who are disadvantaged but have potential can be developed further. We at the DPRD will consult further regarding the Sekolah Rakyat programme to avoid any miscommunication,” he said.
To date, pilot Sekolah Rakyat schools have been established at 166 locations with 15,954 pupils at primary, lower secondary and upper secondary levels, supported by 2,218 teachers and 4,889 education support staff. Meanwhile, construction of permanent Sekolah Rakyat facilities is under way at 104 locations, targeted to become operational in 2026.