Education Budget Not Reduced, Strengthened Through School Revitalisation

JAKARTA - The Presidential Chief of Staff (KSP), Muhammad Qodari, has emphasised that the education budget has not been reduced; instead, it is being strengthened through school revitalisation programmes and the construction of People’s Schools. Qodari stated that these programmes not only focus on improving education quality but also provide multiplier effects on the economy. According to Qodari, the continuity of the school revitalisation and People’s Schools construction programmes serves as evidence of the government’s commitment to bolstering the education budget. The school revitalisation programme in 2025 has reached 16,167 educational units, an increase from the government’s initial target of just 10,000 schools. As of 11 March 2026, 16,062 schools have completed construction, while the remaining 105 schools are still in the process of completion. In addition to school revitalisation, the government is also implementing the People’s Schools programme. This programme is a priority to expand access to education for vulnerable groups, particularly deciles 1 and 2, or the bottom 20 per cent of society. Each People’s School is designed to have a capacity of 1,080 students per year. By 2029, the government targets the construction of 500 People’s Schools, which will reach around 540,000 underprivileged students each year.