Social Affairs Minister highlights positive progress of Kupang People's Junior High School students

Kupang (ANTARA) — Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul) noted positive progress among students at Kupang People’s Junior High School (SRMP) 19 following over nine months of learning.

“The students appear more confident and optimistic about the future, receiving the necessary support in their education,” Gus Ipul said during the President’s Priority Program Collaboration Event for Building Human Resources Towards Economic Independence, held in conjunction with the National Elderly Day (HLUN) 2026 themed ‘Resilient Elderly, Growing Indonesia’ at the Eltari Hall of the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Provincial Government Office in Kupang on Sunday.

He added that these achievements were supported by various educational facilities, including structured lessons, nutritious meals, learning technology, libraries, and laboratories.

“This programme enables children from the poorest families—those previously out of school, never attended school, or dropped out—to access education,” he said.

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) Chief Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti also praised the SRMP 19 Kupang students, stating that the progress of children from the lowest income deciles was commendable.

“Minister, I have attended People’s School events multiple times, and each time the students’ performance moves me deeply. Knowing they come from the lowest income brackets yet shine so brightly and have remarkable future aspirations is truly impressive,” Amalia said.

She added that the use of the National Social and Economic Single Data (DTSEN) system in student selection has made the People’s School programme more targeted towards impoverished families, expressing amazement at their transformation.

“We saw how the children have transformed. I observed the before and after; the before was like this, but the after is what we witnessed today,” she explained.