Pramono Anung Ready to Provide Additional Land for Sekolah Rakyat in Jakarta

Sekolah Rakyat Menengah Atas 10 Jakarta Selatan held an Open House for parents and prospective students on Friday (3/7). DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung attended the event and observed the progress of students who have been at the school for the past year. He was treated to various performances, including a Betawi dance, karate, a trilingual speech in Mandarin, Arabic, and English, a choir, and poetry readings.

Pramono admitted he was deeply moved by the performances. "Seeing this today, I honestly, Mr Minister, have been holding back tears. Because I experienced something quite similar to what you, ladies and gentlemen, have," he said. He recounted his childhood in Kediri, where his parents were teachers raising seven children, relying on government scholarships for his education. "If it weren’t for government assistance through scholarships, I wouldn’t have made it. So, I have been listening to what the Minister of Social Affairs said and enjoying what the children presented," he explained.

He expressed admiration for the students’ performances, calling them an inspiration for the children to become resilient individuals. Pramono added that the Sekolah Rakyat, an idea initiated by President Prabowo, provides hope for underprivileged families to access quality education. "Hopefully, this will be a long-term investment for your children," he said. He noted the programme aligns with DKI Jakarta’s priority schemes, such as the Jakarta Smart Card (KJP), the Jakarta Superior Student Card, and the diploma redemption amnesty programme. At the school he visited, 190 students are recorded as KJP recipients.

Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf explained President Prabowo’s directive to increase the capacity of Sekolah Rakyat to accommodate 1,000 students. He stated that the DKI Jakarta provincial government supports this development. "I certainly welcome this, as the Governor wants to fulfil the President’s hope that DKI Jakarta will have additional pioneer schools to accommodate no fewer than 1,000 students," he said. He explained that 10 pioneer school sites are currently being prepared, with eight already undergoing renovation. Pramono responded by affirming his full commitment to supporting the programme’s growth. "So, we will thoroughly prepare a location that can possibly be used for a Sekolah Rakyat with 1,000 students," he stated.