Hesitant at First, Rifki Relinquishes Brilliant Career for People's School
A warm and friendly personality radiates from Rifki Hakim. Currently serving as the Headmaster of Integrated People’s School (SRT) 9 Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, he is often seen interacting closely with his students.
Deciding to join the ‘Sekolah Rakyat’ (People’s School) was not an easy feat. Rifki initially faced a dilemma between leading a free boarding school programme proposed by President Prabowo Subianto or accepting a headmaster position at a regular school in South Kalimantan. His journey began when the South Kalimantan Provincial Education Office notified him that his name was among 35 candidates for the People’s School Headmaster position. He subsequently underwent a rigorous selection process, including interviews, psychological tests, and TOEFL English proficiency tests.
While he successfully passed the tests and attended a retreat in Jakarta, he simultaneously received an offer to complete administrative requirements for a regular school position. This created significant internal conflict, as well as uncertainty among his colleagues regarding the status of the new boarding school programme. However, clarity arrived during the Jakarta retreat, where the objectives of the People’s School were clearly outlined: a programme designed to provide free education to children from impoverished and extremely poor backgrounds across Indonesia to help break the cycle of poverty.
Ultimately, with the blessing of his wife and mother—a former school principal—Rifki decided to step out of his comfort zone. He expressed that his focus has shifted from personal career advancement to the responsibility of nurturing the students entrusted to him. He was particularly moved by a message from the Minister of Social Affairs, Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul), who noted that headmasters must act as ‘lighters of candles’ for those who have almost given up.
SRT 9 Banjarbaru manages both junior and senior high school levels, with a total of 125 students. The student body comes from diverse and challenging backgrounds, including those who had previously dropped out of school or were forced into child labour. Rifki emphasises that patience is the key for educators in this environment to rebuild student character and discipline.
After nearly two months in the role, Rifki has observed significant positive changes in student behaviour, noting increased politeness and environmental awareness. He views the People’s School concept as a breakthrough for long-term investment in the poor through education. Moving forward, Rifki hopes the government will focus not only on increasing the quantity of these schools but also on ensuring the quality of education provided within the existing institutions.