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

Kediri Regent Hanindhito Himawan Pramana believes the Sekolah Rakyat (People’s School) programme is a central government initiative to prevent children from extremely poor families from dropping out of school. “Education is a way to break the poverty chain,” said Hanindhito during an open house at the Integrated People’s School I in Kediri Regency on Tuesday. He added that a similar concept had previously been implemented by the Kediri Regency Government through SMA Dharma Wanita 1 Pare Boarding School, where students from underprivileged families receive educational facilities and scholarships. In the 2026/2027 academic year, the Integrated People’s School I in Kediri Regency will accept not only high school students but also primary and junior high school students. A total of 248 new students will be admitted, consisting of 23 primary school students, 107 junior high school students, and 118 high school students. “We will fully oversee this People’s School. Today, our full team is here to ensure that this programme does not just run, but that it is a successful programme,” said the official, who is familiarly known as Mas Dhito. He explained that the indicator of the programme’s success is when children who previously had no opportunity to continue their education can pursue higher levels of education, including university, thereby improving their family’s welfare. Mas Dhito added that the Kediri Regency Government will continue to collaborate with the central government to ensure that all the students’ educational needs are optimally met. “The Kediri Regency Government and the central government will collaborate to provide the best for these children,” he said. Meanwhile, the Head of the Integrated People’s School I in Kediri Regency, Fadeli, explained that the school also has 99 first-batch students who are now in their second year of senior high school. All admitted students were identified through outreach and come from extremely poor families. Fadeli expressed appreciation for the Kediri Regency Government’s support, which includes not only providing land for the school’s construction but also assisting in fulfilling the need for teaching staff through the Regency Education Office. “Thank you, Regent. We have been supported with six primary school teachers, one physical education teacher, and 13 junior high school teachers,” said Fadeli.