Governor Pramono Anung Moved by Students' Progress at Sekolah Rakyat Open House

Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf, known as Gus Ipul, and Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung attended an open house at Sekolah Rakyat 10 Jakarta on Friday, 3 July 2026. They were greeted by enthusiastic chants from the students. Governor Pramono Anung admitted he was moved to tears witnessing the students’ progress, recalling his own past reliance on government scholarships to attend school. “From earlier, I was actually shedding tears. I experienced more or less the same thing. If I hadn’t received government assistance through a scholarship, I might not have been able to go to school,” he said.

The students, dressed in their uniforms, showcased a variety of performances including marching drills, Betawi dance, and multilingual speeches. Minister Gus Ipul stated that Sekolah Rakyat is a key part of President Prabowo’s grand strategy to break the poverty chain through education. He outlined that the programme ensures children attend school while their parents are economically empowered. “The concept is, the children go to school, the parents are empowered. This is the state’s way of nurturing underprivileged children so they are not left behind,” he explained.

Gus Ipul also emphasised a strict policy against bullying, physical violence, and sexual violence within the schools. Governor Pramono committed full support from the Jakarta Provincial Government, including plans to expand the programme by adding approximately 1,000 new student places in the capital. Currently, Sekolah Rakyat operates in 166 locations nationwide, serving over 15,000 students, with total enrolment expected to reach 45,000 in the upcoming academic year.