Gus Ipul Opens First Permanent School Orientation for 'Sekolah Rakyat' in Sragen

Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf, known as Gus Ipul, officially opened the School Environment Introduction (MPLS) activities for the 2026/2027 academic year at the permanent Sekolah Rakyat building in Sragen Regency, Central Java. Gus Ipul, accompanied by Deputy Minister of Social Affairs Agus Jabo Priyono and their entourage, was welcomed with a marching display by students of SRT 78 Sragen and spirited chants from prospective pupils. The event also featured a pencak silat performance by Arya Purbaya, a student from SRMA 17 Surakarta, followed by speeches delivered in three languages: Japanese, English, and Arabic. A special choir performance by Sekolah Rakyat students and a poetry reading further enlivened the occasion. Additionally, a teaching demonstration was conducted by a science teacher named Aulia. During the visit, Gus Ipul engaged in a dialogue with the prospective students who will study at this boarding school concept institution. “Are you ready for school?” Gus Ipul asked the prospective students, to which they replied in unison, “Ready!” When asked if anyone wanted to back out, they firmly answered, “No!” “Alhamdulillah, everyone is enthusiastic about going to school,” Gus Ipul remarked. He revealed that approximately 28,000 new students are joining Sekolah Rakyat this academic year, spanning elementary, junior high, and senior high school levels across various locations. “And this number will continue to grow,” he added. Gus Ipul explained that there is no registration system for students attending Sekolah Rakyat. He stressed that the process involves outreach to children from underprivileged families. “I want to convey that Sekolah Rakyat does not have a registration process; instead, there is outreach conducted by social assistants from the Ministry of Social Affairs in cooperation with local governments, specifically the teams of regents, mayors, or governors at the provincial level. This is in collaboration with the local education office and the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) to reach families who meet the criteria to attend Sekolah Rakyat,” he clarified. Meanwhile, Murni, the mother of a prospective student named Septiana Selfi Safira (12), expressed her happiness that her child could continue her education. She hopes her daughter will become intelligent, successful, and achieve her dream of becoming a mathematics teacher. “Even though my child was born into an underprivileged family, Alhamdulillah she always ranks first, which is why she loves mathematics,” Murni said.