Kediri Regent Values People's School Programme as Solution to Prevent Dropouts

Kediri (ANTARA) - The Regent of Kediri, Hanindhito Himawan Pramana, considers the Sekolah Rakyat (People’s School) programme to be a central government initiative to prevent children from extremely poor families from dropping out of school.

“Education is, in any case, the way to break the chain of poverty,” said Hanindhito while attending an open house at Sekolah Rakyat Terintegrasi I in Kediri Regency on Tuesday.

He added that a similar concept had previously been implemented by the Kediri Regency Government through the SMA Dharma Wanita 1 Pare Boarding School. At that school, students from underprivileged families receive educational facilities as well as scholarships.

In the 2026/2027 academic year, Sekolah Rakyat Terintegrasi I in Kediri Regency will not only accept senior secondary students, but also primary and junior secondary pupils. There are 248 new students in total, comprising 23 primary school pupils, 107 junior secondary students and 118 senior secondary students.

“We will fully safeguard this Sekolah Rakyat; today we are deploying our full team to ensure that this programme not merely runs, but succeeds,” said the figure affectionately known as Mas Dhito.

He explained that the programme’s success indicator is when children who previously had no opportunity to continue their education are able to pursue studies to a higher level, including university, thereby improving their families’ welfare.

Mas Dhito added that the Kediri Regency Government will continue to collaborate with the central government to ensure that all of the students’ educational needs are optimally met.

“The Kediri Regency Government and the Central Government will collaborate to give the best for these children,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fadeli, Head of Sekolah Rakyat Terintegrasi I in Kediri Regency, explained that the school also has 99 students from its first intake who are now in year eleven of senior secondary school. All admitted students were recruited through outreach and come from extremely poor families.

Fadeli expressed appreciation for the Kediri Regency Government’s support, which has not only provided land for the school’s construction but also helped meet teaching staff needs through the Kediri Regency Education Office.

“Thank you, Mas Bup; we have been supported by six primary school teachers, one physical education teacher and 13 junior secondary teachers,” said Fadeli.