Sekolah Rakyat Student Serves in Flag-Lowering Ceremony at the Palace

Ismi Ulfaida (16), a student from Sekolah Rakyat in Polewali Mandar, was part of the 2026 National Paskibraka tasked with lowering the red and white flag this afternoon at the State Palace in Jakarta. Ismi was even entrusted with the role of reserve baki carrier.

Dressed in her Paskibraka uniform, Ismi and her colleagues tasked with the flag-lowering appeared confident. This was the moment she had been waiting for after undergoing lengthy training.

This afternoon, Ismi and her colleagues’ performance went smoothly even though this was her first time serving as Paskibraka.

Ismi’s journey to becoming a national Paskibraka member was inseparable from the presence of Sekolah Rakyat. At Sekolah Rakyat Terintegrasi 22 Polewali Mandar, in addition to studying, she also first learned and deepened her marching skills through the Pramuka extracurricular activity until she finally took part in the Paskibraka selection and passed to the national level.

This opportunity did not make Ismi arrogant. She invited all children to never give up and to reach for their dreams.

“To my friends out there, keep your spirits up. Don’t despair, don’t give up easily,” said Ismi in a written statement on Monday (17/8/2026).

Ismi’s journey can serve as an inspiration for other Sekolah Rakyat students. She is proof that Sekolah Rakyat can compete with other schools, even at the national level.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul), who attended the flag-lowering ceremony in commemoration of the 81st Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia, admitted he was proud of Ismi’s achievements.

“Very proud to see firsthand one of the students from Sekolah Rakyat this afternoon who served in the flag-lowering ceremony,” he concluded.