People's School in Bekasi Regency to Begin Operations in July 2026

The Bekasi Regency Government has ensured that the People’s School, which is a priority programme of President Prabowo Subianto, will begin operations in the new academic year starting July 2026. The initiative specifically targets children from extremely poor families, including those who have dropped out of school or are living on the streets.

This was announced by the Acting Regent of Bekasi, Asep Surya Atmaja, following a working visit by the Chief of Staff to the Presidency, Dudung Abdurachman, to the construction site of the People’s School in the Bekasi Regency Government Complex, Central Cikarang, on Monday (18/5). The Acting Regent stated that the local government has prepared approximately 5.4 hectares of land to support the construction, which will be carried out by the central government through the Ministry of Public Works.

“From the local government, we have prepared over 5 hectares of land. The construction is being handled by the Ministry of Public Works, while the region provides the land and infrastructural support,” said Asep Surya in a statement.

He explained that the People’s School is not only intended for new students but also offers opportunities for dropouts to return to formal education. The primary targets for the programme are families in the decile 1 and decile 2 categories—representing the poorest and extremely poor groups—based on central government data.

For the initial phase, Bekasi Regency has been allocated a quota of 270 students, divided into nine study groups: three groups each for primary, junior high, and senior high school levels. Currently, the registration process is undergoing verification, with preliminary data showing 10 applicants for primary school, 31 for junior high, and 80 for senior high school.

The Acting Regent noted that Bekasi Regency is fortunate to host this national priority programme alongside the Waste-to-Energy (PSEL) project, reflecting the central government’s attention to the region.

The Head of the Bekasi Regency Social Affairs Office, Alamsyah, stated that preparations, including land provision and licensing, began in April 2025. He noted that student identification is being conducted using data from the Ministry of Social Affairs, verified alongside the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) and Family Hope Programme (PKH) facilitators. All educational costs, from enrolment to graduation, including supporting facilities, will be fully covered by the government.