Public Works Minister Inspects Integrated People's School in Sragen, Reaffirms Education Commitment

Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo has urged students of the People’s School to seize the learning opportunities and facilities provided by the government as a foundation for achieving a better future. The message was delivered during his inspection of the Integrated People’s School (SRT) 1 Sragen in Sragen Regency, Central Java, on Sunday. The visit aimed to ensure the readiness of infrastructure ahead of the school’s operation, including classrooms, dormitories, dining halls, sanitation facilities, places of worship, and sports amenities. During the inspection, Minister Dody took time to speak with students participating in the school orientation programme. He asked them to study diligently and make the best use of the facilities built by the state. ‘On behalf of the Government and President Prabowo Subianto, I hope you feel at home here and study hard. Use all the facilities provided by the state as well as possible,’ he said. ‘Never feel inferior, because the People’s School gives you the opportunity to achieve success in the future. If you succeed, your family succeeds, and God willing, the nation will also progress.’ SRT 1 Sragen is built on a 59,000-square-metre plot and is equipped with dormitories, teacher housing blocks, a mosque, a canteen, a kitchen, a library, and a sports field. Overall, construction is complete and the school is ready for use, although minor finishing works remain, such as bathroom drainage, gutter checks, and other building details. ‘It is basically finished. Only a few parts of the student dormitory need refinement, but it can already be used by new students,’ the Minister said. Nationally, most People’s School construction projects have also entered their final stages. Of approximately 93 sites, only around nine locations have progress below 90 percent. According to Minister Dody, delays are mainly due to logistical constraints in hard-to-reach areas. Nevertheless, all projects have reached the finishing phase and can be utilised to support school activities. The Ministry of Public Works is also preparing the construction of around 100 Phase 3 People’s Schools, which will soon enter the tender process. In line with President Prabowo Subianto’s directive, this programme is designed to broaden educational access for children from underprivileged families, with a long-term target of one People’s School in every regency and a capacity of around 2,000 to 3,000 students per school. ‘The People’s School is a flagship programme to alleviate poverty. By educating children from underprivileged families, they are expected to improve their family’s quality of life from poor to prosperous, while simultaneously preparing the Golden Indonesia 2045 generation,’ Minister Dody concluded.