MP calls for support to help Sekolah Rakyat pupils access university

Jakarta (ANTARA) — Hetifah Sjaifudian, a member of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR), has called for Sekolah Rakyat pupils to receive support in accessing higher education, including scholarships for those who meet the requirements.

“I’m very pleased to hear that the children are already thinking about how they can go to university. It means they have dreams and the determination to change their future,” Hetifah said in a written statement received in Jakarta on Thursday.

She said Sekolah Rakyat pupils needed information, guidance and assistance to access higher-education opportunities, including the Gratispol scholarship programme in East Kalimantan and the Indonesia Smart College Card (KIP Kuliah), for those who qualify.

Pupils and parents raised their aspirations for university study during Hetifah’s visit to Integrated Sekolah Rakyat 2 in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, on 14 October 2026.

“These children need not only a school, but also an environment that provides safety, affection, self-confidence and hope. That is what we must work together to fight for,” she said.

Hetifah said she hoped the aspirations of pupils and parents would inform evaluations to improve the quality of Sekolah Rakyat, enabling the programme to support the futures of children from low-income families.

Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf has previously said the government was preparing two options for Sekolah Rakyat graduates after secondary school: continuing to university or becoming skilled workers. He said this would help the programme achieve its main goal of breaking the cycle of poverty.

“The important thing I want to emphasise is the transition to the next stage. The President’s instructions are quite clear: Sekolah Rakyat graduates must not be unemployed. There are only two choices: become skilled workers or continue to university,” he said.