Prabowo Targets Completion of Nationwide School Renovation by 2029

President Prabowo Subianto has set a target for the renovation programme of all schools in Indonesia, including Islamic boarding schools (pesantren), to be completed by 2029. The President made the announcement during his state address at the 2026 Annual Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the Joint Session of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) and the House of Representatives (DPR) at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Friday (14/8).

“By 2029, all schools in Indonesia — primary, junior secondary, senior secondary, vocational, including those in pesantren — must have been renovated,” President Prabowo stated in his speech.

According to Prabowo, providing nutritious meals for children will not be sufficient to build the quality of human resources without adequate educational facilities. He emphasised that Indonesian children must receive a good education in a proper school environment.

The government has recorded significant progress in this large-scale school improvement programme. As of 2026, a total of 71,744 schools have been successfully refurbished. This figure represents a sharp increase compared to the previous year, which saw only around 17,000 schools renovated.

To meet the overall target by 2029, the government has drawn up an ambitious renovation roadmap. It aims to refurbish 100,000 schools in 2027 and another 100,000 schools in 2028.

Prabowo affirmed that the programme reaches the outermost and most remote regions, such as Miangas Island, where school facilities have already been improved. In addition to schools, the government also plans to upgrade health facilities like community health centres (puskesmas) in these border areas.

To ensure equitable development, the government has established a special task force. This unit is responsible for addressing infrastructure needs on the outermost islands from Sabang to Merauke.

The 2026 Annual Session was part of the commemoration of the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia, which carried the theme “A Sovereign, Just, and Prosperous Indonesia.” In addition to delivering the speech, the government also screened a video of performance achievements as a form of transparency to the public.