MPR: People's Schools demonstrate government's commitment to guaranteeing access to education

Jakarta (ANTARA) - People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Ahmad Muzani stated that the People’s Schools (Sekolah Rakyat) programme represents the government’s earnest commitment to guaranteeing access to education for all Indonesians, including underprivileged communities. He also noted the Sekolah Unggul Garuda programme, whose primary task is to produce top talent in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). “Article 31 of the Constitution mandates that every citizen has the right to education,” Muzani said during his introductory speech at the 2026 MPR Annual Session and the Joint Session of the DPR-DPD at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Friday. Beyond education, Muzani argued that in the economic sector, the government has also established the Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih (Red and White Village/Sub-district Cooperatives). He stated that the constitution affirms that the economy shall be organised as a common endeavour based on the principle of familyhood. Muzani said this mandate demonstrates that Indonesia’s economic development must not be left solely to free competition, which makes the strong mightier and the weak increasingly marginalised. Thus, Muzani stated that cooperatives are a means of bringing democracy to economic life. “A cooperative is not merely a business entity. A cooperative is a spirit of advancing together,” he said. Therefore, Muzani added, the success of a cooperative is measured by the growth of productive economic activities, increased members’ income, strong governance, and greater community self-reliance. On Friday, the MPR, DPR, and DPD held the MPR Annual Session and the DPR-DPD Joint Session. One of the agenda items was a speech by President Prabowo Subianto to deliver the performance report of state institutions and the state address in commemoration of the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia. In addition to the speech, the government also screened a video on government performance achievements. The annual session is a state agenda to welcome the 81st Anniversary of Indonesian Independence, which carries the theme ‘A Sovereign, Just, and Prosperous Indonesia.’