Highlighting Kemensos's Actions in Pejompongan, Atalia Praratya Delivers This Piercing Message

The Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) initiative to seek potential students for Sekolah Rakyat from street and market areas in Pejompongan, Central Jakarta, is deemed worthy of appreciation. This is viewed as a progressive effort to expand educational access for vulnerable groups. According to the data provided, 77 children have been identified as potential students for the 2026/2027 academic year, with 29 of them being street children who are not in school and work in the informal sector. DPR RI Commission VIII member from the Golkar Party faction, Atalia Praratya, considers the proactive approach through direct outreach to the field as an important breakthrough to complement data-based mechanisms such as the National Integrated Social Economic Data (DTSEN). However, she believes this approach needs to be strengthened with a more comprehensive system so that it does not become temporary or partial. “The proactive outreach to street children hotspots is a form of real state presence. But what is more important is ensuring that this process does not stop at data collection and initial recruitment, but continues with ongoing support,” said Atalia in her statement on Saturday (25/4/2026). Nationally, data shows that the number of out-of-school children (ATS) in Indonesia remains a serious challenge. According to data from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, the number of ATS still reaches hundreds of thousands of school-age children, with high concentrations in densely populated urban areas and poverty pockets. Street children are the most vulnerable group because they face multidimensional barriers: economic, social, and protection-related. In this context, Atalia provides several recommendations. First, data integration and field validation must be strengthened. According to her, a combination approach between DTSEN and field verification needs clear operational standards to avoid bias or data exclusion. “Validation must involve local government, RT/RW, and social workers who understand the real conditions of the children,” said Atalia. Second, Atalia touches on the family-based approach as key. Because many street children work not merely by choice, but due to family economic pressures. Thus, interventions are not sufficient only for the children, but must also target families through social assistance, economic empowerment, and parenting education. “Third, guarantees of educational continuity and social adaptation. Entering Sekolah Rakyat is not the end of the process, but the beginning of a long journey. Children with street backgrounds need psychosocial support, character building, and an adaptive curriculum to prevent dropout again,” said Atalia.