Social Affairs Ministry emphasises no preferential treatment in Sekolah Rakyat student selection
Sumedang (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) has emphasised that the selection of students for Sekolah Rakyat is carried out through a family outreach mechanism based on specific criteria, rather than through direct registration by the public.
Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul) stated in Sumedang on Thursday that prospective students must come from families within decile 1 and decile 2, followed by verification to ensure the family’s condition aligns with the government’s established criteria. “Who can study here? Only those who meet the criteria, residing in decile 1 or decile 2, and have been verified accordingly. There is no room for preferential treatment,” he said.
He explained that the process of identifying prospective students is conducted by facilitators of the Family Hope Programme (PKH) and social workers, with support from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) and relevant regional agencies.
According to the Minister, this mechanism means that Sekolah Rakyat does not open registration to the general public; instead, prospective students must be identified and matched with the criteria through the outreach process conducted by the relevant officers.
Once prospective students meet the requirements, their names must be proposed by the regional head as part of the formal designation process for students who have met the criteria. “Everyone who can study here must be proposed by the Regent. Therefore, if you are all here, it has certainly been approved by the Regent,” the Minister added.
Saifullah emphasised that all parties involved in the outreach and student admission must ensure that the programme is provided to families who truly meet the requirements and is not exploited for specific interests.
He stressed that this mechanism is vital to ensure that Sekolah Rakyat remains dedicated to children from target families, while simultaneously ensuring that educational assistance is distributed according to the criteria set by the government.