Prabowo: Sekolah Rakyat to Break the Cycle of Poverty

President Prabowo Subianto said the government is building People’s Schools as boarding schools for children from the most vulnerable families to break the cycle of poverty and open opportunities for them to achieve a better future.

“We are also building People’s Schools, boarding schools for children from the most helpless families with classrooms, accommodation, nutritious food, computers, teachers, and a safe environment. The strategy is that we must break the cycle of poverty,” Prabowo said in his state address at the 2026 Annual Session of the MPR and the Joint Session of the DPD and DPR at the MPR/DPR Building, Senayan, Jakarta, Friday.

Prabowo stressed that a family’s economic condition must not determine a child’s future, and the state must intervene in accordance with the mandate of Article 34 of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, which states that the poor and abandoned children shall be cared for by the state.

“Eventually every regency will have one People’s School,” he said.

Prabowo then introduced Muhammad Rizky Pratama, a 12-year-old People’s School student who once pedalled a bicycle for dozens of kilometres while carrying around 30 kilograms of fish to sell.

Rizky had dropped out of school and, when he entered the People’s School, was not yet fluent in reading and was unable to count well.

“Today Rizky is back in school and has regained his right to learn and to shape his aspirations. There is no investment more valuable than restoring a child’s future,” Prabowo said.

Citra then received the opportunity to continue her education through the People’s School and succeeded in becoming a regency-level karate champion.

“Citra, how old are you? Ten years old. In ten years’ time you may date. Citra, you may date after you get your black belt in karate, so no one will dare mess with you,” Prabowo said with a smile.

Furthermore, Prabowo also mentioned that seven People’s School students in Makassar achieved success in the 15th Indonesian National Olympiad in mathematics, biology, Indonesian language, history, and sociology.

According to Prabowo, these various achievements prove that students from the poorest families can attain high achievement when given adequate opportunity, facilities, and guidance.

“No Indonesian child will be left behind,” Prabowo said.