Sekolah Rakyat Student Joins Paskibraka for 81st Independence Day at Palace

Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi has announced that a student from Sekolah Rakyat has been selected to join the national flag-hoisting squad (Paskibraka) for the 81st Independence Day ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on 17 August.

Prasetyo said he was proud that a Sekolah Rakyat student had passed the selection process for the 76 Paskibraka members drawn from 38 provinces. He also confirmed that the selection process was conducted in accordance with regulations.

“When we received information that one of the successful Paskibraka members turned out to be from Sekolah Rakyat, we were frankly also proud,” Prasetyo said at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday (12/8).

The Sekolah Rakyat student who has joined the Paskibraka for the 81st Independence Day ceremony in 2026 is Ismi Ulfaida. She is 16 years old and comes from Sekolah Rakyat Terintegrasi 22 Polewali Mandar in West Sulawesi.

Prasetyo confirmed that President Prabowo is not yet aware of the news. He admitted that he has not yet submitted a detailed report on the matter to the President.

“He does not know yet, because we have not reported it in detail. Secondly, we ourselves as those responsible were also surprised,” he said.

According to Prasetyo, the Paskibraka selection process has been conducted on the basis of competence from the outset. He stressed that the process is not easy because participants are required not to make a single mistake.

“If necessary, one day we can practise marching with our media colleagues. It shows how difficult it is to become a Paskibraka member, especially at the national level,” he said.

According to Prasetyo, participants are required to be ready not only physically but also mentally. This is because they will be watched by the entire Indonesian public.

“You will have to perform, you cannot make a mistake, nothing can go wrong, and in your mind you are thinking that you are being watched by the entire Indonesian nation. That is not an easy thing,” he said.