Open House at SRMP 2 Medan: Gus Ipul Invites Public to See Glimpse of Sekolah Rakyat

Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf, known as Gus Ipul, has invited the public, particularly prospective students and their parents, to see firsthand the teaching, pastoral care, and positive changes in students after being shaped at Sekolah Rakyat (People’s Schools). The invitation was delivered directly during the Sekolah Rakyat Open House at SRMP 2 Medan, North Sumatra, on Monday (15/6). “Previously, these children were not like they are now. They are more disciplined, confident, intelligent, and optimistic about facing the future. This is something we are all grateful for,” Gus Ipul said in a statement. He explained that the Open House provides an opportunity for prospective students and parents to directly observe the learning system, dormitory atmosphere, and educational environment of Sekolah Rakyat, offering a complete picture of the educational process the students will undergo. He stressed three things that must not occur at Sekolah Rakyat: bullying, sexual or physical violence, and intolerance. “No one may insult, belittle, or demean anyone. There must be no sexual violence or physical violence. There must be no intolerance,” Gus Ipul asserted. A total of 75 prospective students and their parents from Medan attended and watched various performances by Sekolah Rakyat students, including traditional dance from SRMP 2 Medan, karate martial arts, a trilingual speech from SRT 30 Medan, and a choir and poetry from students of SRMP 2 Medan and SRT 30 Medan. Continuing his briefing, Gus Ipul said that Sekolah Rakyat is part of efforts to alleviate poverty. Children attending Sekolah Rakyat are guided to become a generation that is intelligent, of good character, and skilled. “Future graduates of Sekolah Rakyat will become teachers, some will become artists. Whatever they become, they will have sufficient skills. That is the hope of the President,” Gus Ipul stated. He noted that President Prabowo’s attention to the children of Sekolah Rakyat is immense, one form of which is the construction of permanent Sekolah Rakyat buildings in various regions. Currently, there are 104 permanent Sekolah Rakyat sites. For Medan, the permanent Sekolah Rakyat will accept 270 students, with a quota of 90 primary school students, 90 junior high school students, and 90 senior high school students. During the event, Gus Ipul also engaged in dialogue with prospective students and their parents, including Ridha Aritona, the mother of Jessica Putri Sirait. She recounted that her family lives on an irregular income as her husband works as an online motorcycle taxi driver. “I have high hopes that my child can receive a quality education despite our inability to afford schooling and tutoring. I greatly hope she can have a better life, not like mine,” she said, shedding tears. Riantika, the mother of Fahrizky, also expressed gratitude that her child got the opportunity to enter Sekolah Rakyat. She said Fahrizky had dropped out of school in the 6th grade of primary school and did not get to graduate. Meanwhile, Medan Mayor Rico Tri Putra Bayu Waas said the Medan city government has supported Sekolah Rakyat from the very beginning. He witnessed firsthand the transformation of children who were previously lacking in confidence and disorganised, now showing progress. “We have supported this Sekolah Rakyat from the very start. I am here again and I see children who were initially not confident and not orderly are now showing progress,” Rico said. He also described the complexity of problems faced by children in urban areas, noting that Sekolah Rakyat serves as a space to reach children from vulnerable families and bring them into a better educational environment.