People's School Not Opening Registrations, Gus Ipul Reminds Regional Governments
Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf, familiarly known as Gus Ipul, received an audience from Pesawaran Regent Nanda Indira Bastian and Ogan Komering Ulu Regent Teddy Meilwansyah in the Minister’s meeting room at the Ministry of Social Affairs building in Central Jakarta on Monday, 13 April 2026.
On that occasion, he emphasised that the People’s School does not open registrations but uses a direct outreach mechanism based on the National Single Social and Economic Data (DTSEN) to ensure the programme precisely targets children from underprivileged families.
“There is no opening of registrations; everyone must understand this. The data is reached through deciles 1 and 2 of DTSEN in the respective areas. Field verification is carried out by Family Hope Programme (PKH) companions, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), and Regional Governments (Pemda). So, the People’s School has no registrations; what exists is outreach,” said Gus Ipul.
The verification results must then obtain approval from the parents of prospective students and the regional head before being officially determined by the Ministry of Social Affairs. Gus Ipul stressed that the accuracy of the process at the regional level is the key to the programme’s success. “If the Regent is wrong, we are wrong. If the Regent is right, we are right. But from the beginning of the process, we are guiding it,” explained Gus Ipul.
In addition, Gus Ipul affirmed that the People’s School is part of an integrated poverty alleviation strategy. This programme not only targets children but also strengthens the social and economic conditions of families.
He explained that children who attend school will be followed by parental empowerment, including home improvements, access to the Red White Village Cooperative, and health assurance through the PBI JKN scheme. With this approach, families are expected to improve their standard of living and no longer depend on social assistance (Bansos). “So, when the child graduates from the People’s School, the parents move up a class and become independent,” said Gus Ipul.
He added that graduates of the People’s School will be directed to continue to higher education or become skilled workers according to their respective potentials. “They must not be idle. If idle, the People’s School fails,” he said.
It is known that currently, the construction of permanent People’s Schools has been underway at more than 100 locations in various regions. This programme targets around 4 million children in Indonesia who are not attending school, have dropped out, or are out of school, including in Pesawaran and Ogan Komering Ulu Regencies.
In its implementation, the People’s School also does not use academic tests. Selection is carried out through health tests and talent mapping to identify students’ potentials from an early age, including tendencies in social fields, science and technology, or languages.
Facilities provided include dormitories, free nutritious meals, school supplies, and digital learning support. Each student and teacher is provided with a laptop, with classrooms equipped with digital whiteboards. “This is not an ordinary school but part of poverty alleviation,” said Gus Ipul.
Pesawaran Regent Nanda Indira Bastian welcomed the People’s School programme positively. She hopes her region can become a priority for the programme’s implementation, given that there are still many children from underprivileged families who have not obtained access to quality education. “Certainly, Mr Minister, for the land for building the People’s School, Insyaallah we are ready. The proposal has been sent by us,” said Nanda.
Ogan Komering Ulu Regent Teddy Meilwansyah also expressed readiness to use the Regional Budget (APBD) to support the construction of the People’s School. “We also request support from Mr Minister, hopefully it can run in October and our children from OKU can be accommodated because the enthusiasm is high,” said Teddy.