Reaching Underprivileged Families: Sekolah Rakyat to Complement State Schools

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Social Affairs has emphasised that the Sekolah Rakyat programme is designed to complement and strengthen the existing national education system, particularly in reaching children from underprivileged families.

The Head of the Public Relations Bureau at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Devi Deliani, stated in Jakarta on Friday that the presence of Sekolah Rakyat is not intended to compete with or take over existing education budget allocations.

“Sekolah Rakyat complements state schools that are being continuously improved within their respective tracks; it is not meant to rival or take over their budgets,” she said.

The programme runs alongside ongoing efforts to reform state schools through their respective channels.

Devi added that the programme is being implemented in a measurable manner, in accordance with the directives of President Prabowo Subianto to expand the reach of educational services for children from vulnerable families throughout Indonesia.

This initiative serves as a strategic step by the government to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty by providing equal and inclusive educational rights.

“Sekolah Rakyat is a promise that no Indonesian child should inherit their parents’ poverty simply because they were never given the opportunity. This is a form of national investment to ensure that future generations grow up in a more just and prosperous society,” said Devi.

With a commitment to expanding physical facilities and implementing quota systems in every region, the government is optimistic that Sekolah Rakyat can serve as a bridge for Indonesian children to obtain their fundamental right to education without being hindered by their family’s economic conditions.