Social Affairs Minister: 'Sekolah Rakyat' at Risk if Additional Budget Not Approved

Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf has stated that the ‘Sekolah Rakyat’ (People’s School) programme will be among those affected if the proposed additional budget of Rp22.49 trillion for the Ministry of Social Affairs in 2027 is not fulfilled. Speaking during a working meeting with House Commission VIII in Jakarta on Wednesday, the minister said, ‘A total of 101,606 Sekolah Rakyat students will be impacted, because operations in 2027 still face a shortfall of Rp3.64 trillion. This will certainly disrupt the continuity of the teaching and learning process at Sekolah Rakyat.’

Saifullah Yusuf detailed several other programmes at risk. Firstly, 1,461,169 impoverished single elderly and disabled individuals would not receive sustainable direct assistance, with a required budget of Rp3.5 trillion that is currently unavailable. Secondly, 420,000 families are threatened with losing Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT), valued at Rp1.01 trillion. Thirdly, 270,000 orphans risk not receiving social rehabilitation attention assistance, requiring a budget of Rp648 billion.

Furthermore, 5,133 District Social Welfare Workers may not receive their honorarium, and 390,000 beneficiary families of the Socio-Economic Empowerment Programme (PPSE) would not receive graduation budget allocations. Additionally, 70,510 persons with disabilities would not receive the Social Rehabilitation Assistance (Atensi) programme. ‘Out of 70,000 persons with disabilities or prospective beneficiaries, we can only reach 14,743 individuals from the total requirement of Rp261 billion, because the budget is not yet available,’ Saifullah Yusuf explained. The Ministry of Social Affairs is requesting the additional budget from House Commission VIII, which, if approved, would bring the ministry’s total 2027 budget to Rp107.20 trillion.