Prabowo instructs expansion of 'Sekolah Rakyat' in Bali
President Prabowo Subianto has instructed the Cabinet Secretary, Teddy Indra Wijaya, and relevant ministries to immediately increase ‘Sekolah Rakyat’ (People’s School) facilities in Bali Province to accommodate the high number of applications from underprivileged students.
“Alright, this means we must add them as quickly as possible; we will make an effort. The central government will endeavour to find the necessary land,” said President Prabowo during a visit to the Sekolah Rakyat Menengah Pertama (SRMP) 17 Tabanan, Bali, on Sunday, according to a statement from the Presidential Secretariat.
The President explained that this instruction for accelerated development is a response to reports of student numbers exceeding the capacity of the only existing Sekolah Rakyat facility in Bali. According to operational data, the number of students reached at SRMP 17 Tabanan has surpassed 400, while the actual capacity of the site is only 270 children.
To address the shortage of classrooms in the short term, the President requested the utilisation of underutilised state assets, which could be borrowed permanently for teaching and learning activities. “The Cabinet Secretary should coordinate with other ministries and agencies; if there are facilities that are not being optimally used, they should be made available for the school,” Prabowo stated.
The President emphasised that the realisation of these Sekolah Rakyat is part of the government’s broader effort to enhance the education and training sectors to ensure all Indonesian citizens can live with dignity.
Regarding the development plans in Bali, Saifullah Yusuf noted that the plan is to establish one ‘Sekolah Rakyat’ per regency or city. The Minister of Social Affairs added technical details regarding student enrolment regulations, noting that zoning rules and quota fulfilment depend heavily on the provision of land by local governments. According to the Minister, if the Bali Provincial Government provides the land, the school will be accessible to residents from all regencies and cities within the province; however, if provided by a regency government, it will be dedicated solely to the residents of that specific regency.