Ministry of Population and Family Development Encourages Regional Expansion of Education Access via PJPK
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Population and Family Development (Kemendukbangga)/BKKBN is encouraging regions to continue expanding public access to education through the Population Development Roadmap (PJPK).
Deputy Minister for Population and Family Development/Wakil Kepala BKKBN Ratu Ayu Isyana Bagoes Oka, during a media briefing ahead of World Population Day in Jakarta on Wednesday, stressed that population development cannot rely solely on family planning programmes. It must begin with equal access to education and the involvement of the younger generation in policy formulation.
“Through the PJPK, the government is urging regional administrations to innovate in expanding educational access, including through scholarships and partnerships with universities, as well as integrating youth development programmes such as the Population Awareness Schools (Sekolah Siaga Kependudukan), Generasi Berencana (Genre), and Youth Information and Counselling Centres (PIK-R) to prepare quality human resources for a Golden Indonesia,” she said.
She also encouraged regional governments not only to focus on increasing school participation rates but also to introduce innovations to broaden educational access and involve young people in the formulation of population policies. These efforts are part of the implementation of the PJPK, which is designed across sectors to address human development challenges in each region.
“The government has launched the People’s Schools (Sekolah Rakyat) for children from underprivileged families and the Garuda Schools (Sekolah Garuda) for high-achieving students as a strategy to expand educational access. The PJPK sets indicators such as average years of schooling and higher education participation, encouraging regional governments to innovate through scholarships and partnerships with universities,” she explained.
“Furthermore, Kemendukbangga/BKKBN actively engages young people through the Population Awareness Schools, Genre, and PIK-R programmes so that adolescents understand population issues, reproductive health, mental health, and are able to plan their futures more maturely,” Isyana added.
According to her, all these programmes are directed at improving the quality of human resources, reducing child marriage and stunting, and creating a link and match between education and the needs of the job market.