Social Affairs Minister Gus Ipul Invites SP2MI to Support 'Sekolah Rakyat' Programme

Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf, known as Gus Ipul, has invited the Indonesian Community Education Activists Union (SP2MI) to take a role in reaching children who have never attended school, dropped out, or are at risk of dropping out, to ensure they gain access to proper education, including through the Sekolah Rakyat (People’s Schools) programme. He made the remarks during the SP2MI National Gathering at the Sasono Budoyo Building, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII), East Jakarta, on Thursday, 25 June 2026.

“On this good occasion, I invite you all to participate in updating data. If you find students who have not yet been registered, please help to update it through the channels we have established,” said Gus Ipul.

He expressed appreciation for SP2MI’s contribution in assisting children who have not had the opportunity to receive an education. “I am happy today to be among the fighters for Indonesian education. Volunteers who have chosen a path in life to help, to comb through school-age children who are not in school, have never attended school, or have dropped out,” he said.

Gus Ipul stated that the issue of out-of-school children remains a major challenge that must be tackled collectively. Data indicates there are still more than four million school-age children not in education. “Data shows that over four million school-age children are not in school, have never attended school, have dropped out, or are at risk of dropping out. This is our shared homework, and you have chosen to help these children,” he said.

According to Gus Ipul, President Prabowo Subianto has given the Ministry of Social Affairs three strategic mandates: updating the National Integrated Socio-Economic Data (DTSEN), distributing targeted social assistance, and organising Sekolah Rakyat. He noted that all these programmes must begin with accurate data so that government interventions truly reach the communities in need. The Sekolah Rakyat programme, he explained, does not use a standard registration mechanism but instead prioritises an outreach approach to children from poor and extremely poor families.

“Sekolah Rakyat does not open registration. Sekolah Rakyat conducts outreach. We do not open registration, but we reach out to those in Desil 1 and 2, the poorest families,” he said.

Because of this, Gus Ipul believes the presence of SP2MI and its network of community education institutions holds a strategic position to help find and assist prospective Sekolah Rakyat students across various regions. He hopes the synergy between the Ministry of Social Affairs and SP2MI can be strengthened through collaboration with the Ministry’s Family Hope Programme (PKH) assistants, who are spread throughout Indonesia.

“We have PKH assistants all over Indonesia, more than 30,000 of them, some of whom may already be in contact with you. I hope that in the future, Mr Amirudin and colleagues can work together with our PKH assistants in various places,” said Gus Ipul.

He also opened up opportunities for broader cooperation between the Ministry of Social Affairs and SP2MI in supporting the implementation of Sekolah Rakyat and addressing the issue of out-of-school children through various community education programmes. “I really hope we can work together. Mr Amirudin can later collaborate with the Ministry of Social Affairs team handling Sekolah Rakyat. We will find ways to help. Afterwards, I will convey to Abdul Mu’ti, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, what programmes we can also synergise,” said Gus Ipul.

SP2MI Chairman Amirudin stated that SP2MI shares a common mission with the Ministry of Social Affairs, as it has been actively assisting community groups that have not yet obtained optimal access to education. “SP2MI has been a government partner, and our hope is that we focus on skills and community empowerment at Community Learning Centres (PKBM). So, if the Ministry of Social Affairs is willing to invite us to become a partner for skills and empowerment of our children,” said Amirudin.

SP2MI members come from various regions and are mostly active in equivalency education programmes, such as Paket A, Paket B, and Paket C, giving them direct experience in reaching children outside the formal education system. At the end of the event, Chairman Amirudin presented a special member pin to Gus Ipul. The atmosphere became even more lively when Gus Ipul, together with hundreds of participants, simultaneously proclaimed the three main keys of Sekolah Rakyat: “Reach the Unreachable, Make the Impossible Possible, and Honour the Common People.”