Major Mission of Sekolah Rakyat to Save Generation from the Streets of the Capital
Social justice is being fetched from the streets, brought into the classroom, and woven into a more inclusive and civilised future for Indonesia.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - From a corner of a room in the building of the Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Administrasi (STIA) Lembaga Administrasi Negara (LAN) RI, Pejompongan, Central Jakarta, Muhammad Aljabar Nur could not hold back his tears. His voice trembled greatly as he introduced himself in front of the high-ranking state officials.
The young man from East Jakarta brought a heart-wrenching confession just as the nation prepares to commemorate National Education Day (Hardiknas) on 2 May 2026. At an age that has entered adolescence, he admitted to never having set foot in a school bench.
Aljabar is just one of many children of the nation who have so far escaped the reach of the system, marginalised by the harsh walls of the economy, and can only gaze at the school gates from afar.
Aljabar’s sadness is the peak of a pile of similar stories filling the room that afternoon. On the other side, there is Rizki Saputera Gonjalez, a transfer from North Jakarta who was forced to abandon his uniform when he had just entered fifth grade of primary school. There is also Putri Nana Kurnia, a ninth-grade junior high school student who is struggling to advance to senior high school amid shadows of uncertainty. Nana lives with her grandmother after her father has been out of touch for years, while her mother must make ends meet as a trader with an uncertain income.
For them, quality education has so far been just a mirage in the midst of the scorching heat of road intersections and the bustle of markets where they seek a living to help their parents.
The bitter reality experienced by Aljabar and his peers aligns with the major challenges recorded in education statistics in the capital.
Although Jakarta is the national economic centre, data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows that school participation rates for teenagers aged 16-18 still leave a gap of 22-24 percent. This means that nearly a quarter of the population in this golden age is no longer captured behind classroom desks, either because they have finished school early, are forced to work, or have truly dropped out due to financial pressures.
This year’s Hardiknas momentum becomes very crucial as a turning point for Aljabar and his peers. The state is fulfilling its promise to present Sekolah Rakyat specifically to accommodate them, including the building in Pejompongan which is currently being renovated.
That afternoon, there was no podium. There were only rows of long chairs. Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya and Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf chose to sit in a circle, on the same level as Aljabar and his friends. While occasionally patting Aljabar’s shoulder who was still sobbing, Teddy tried to lighten the atmosphere with light conversation like an elder brother.
Seeing Aljabar’s sadness, Teddy immediately gave encouragement. He emphasised that from today onwards, sadness must no longer be a close companion for these children.
“Don’t cry, you can’t be sad here anymore. Insya Allah, you can make your family proud and all dreams achieved, amin,” he said softly.