People's Schools Reach 3T Areas, DPR RI Says Benefits Are Strongly Felt

The meeting discussed several topics, including the Sekolah Rakyat, social services for the Maluku Islands, addressing the needs of indigenous communities, and proposals for the establishment of centres in Maluku. Alimudin noted that Maluku’s geography, dominated by sea areas, has an impact on high logistics costs, limited access to education, and poverty in the region. ‘Maluku is 92 percent sea. The movement of goods and services is costly, transport access remains limited. This affects poverty levels in Maluku,’ he said in a written statement on Thursday, 21 May 2026. He regards the Sekolah Rakyat programme as one of the key interventions to break the poverty chain in island regions and in the 3T areas (Tertinggal, Terdepan, Terluar). ‘The Sekolah Rakyat, with its philosophy of breaking the poverty chain, is very much felt as beneficial by the people of Maluku,’ he added. Currently, three pilot Sekolah Rakyat are operating in Maluku, namely SRMA 40 Ambon, SRT 73 Maluku Tengah, and SRT 74 Tual. In addition, four new sites have been proposed for inclusion in the next phase of development: Ambon, East Seram (Seram Bagian Timur), Aru, and Southeast Maluku (Maluku Tenggara). Meanwhile, East Seram Regency’s Deputy Regent Muhammad Miftah Toha Rumery Wattimena said his area has prepared all the requirements for the Sekolah Rakyat. ‘We have gone through all the stages and everything is ready. We hope East Seram Regency can be prioritised in this year’s phase,’ Miftah said. In response, Gus Ipul urged all technical requirements to be completed promptly so they can be discussed with the Ministry of Public Works in the near future. ‘The important thing is that all requirements are met, because there are many things to be ensured, from land contours to AMDAL,’ Gus Ipul said. Strengthening Social Services for Maluku Communities At the same event, Affandy Hasansui, head of the Maluku Provincial Social Service Office, presented the proposal to establish a centre in Maluku to strengthen social services for island and outer island areas. He said that Maluku is still within the coverage of the Sentra Wasana Bahagia in Ternate, while the span of control across regions is very wide and most regencies/cities are on different islands. ‘We often receive people with mental illness (ODGJ), hydrocephalus children, and amputee patients from outer islands to accommodate temporarily before referral. Our shelter capacity is very limited,’ Affandy explained. Gus Ipul welcomed the proposal and urged the Maluku provincial government to immediately complete all supporting documents so that the centre proposal can be discussed further. ‘If the arguments are strong and the requirements complete, I will report to the President,’ he concluded. For information, at the meeting attended also by DPR RI Expert Staff Charles Hutabarat. Gus Ipul was accompanied by Acting Director of Disaster Victims’ Social Protection Masryani Mansyur. (ega/ega)