Social Affairs Ministry Finalises Readiness of 'Sekolah Rakyat' Nationwide

Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf, alongside Deputy Minister Agus Jabo Priyono, chaired a coordination meeting on preparations for the 2026/2027 academic year of Sekolah Rakyat at the Ministry’s office on Thursday, 25 June 2026. The meeting focused on readiness for the Masa Pengenalan Lingkungan Sekolah (MPLS) student orientation, which will commence simultaneously on 14 July 2026. Discussions covered five main aspects: readiness of facilities and infrastructure, student readiness, readiness of teachers and education personnel, MPLS implementation readiness, and budget support for the schools’ operation.

Saifullah Yusuf stated that all working units must ensure every basic need of Sekolah Rakyat is met before MPLS begins. He requested detailed written reports on all developments related to school construction, procurement of facilities, distribution of student supplies, and any critical unmet needs. ‘We want to ensure there are no delays. Everything must be mapped out from now, from construction and procurement to the distribution of school supplies and any remaining shortages. If there are potential problems, report them early so we can help resolve them,’ he said.

Secretary General Robben Rico reported that permanent construction of Sekolah Rakyat is ongoing at 93 locations. While no site has yet reached 100 per cent completion, several locations are showing significant progress. The five sites with the highest construction progress are currently in Medan, Surabaya, Gresik, Sampang, and Bengkulu. Anticipating the transition from pioneer Sekolah Rakyat sites to permanent buildings, Saifullah Yusuf requested that all ministry centres and offices provide full support during the transition period. ‘Please assist with the transition from pioneer sites to permanent buildings. Report any procurement. Do not build unnecessary things just to chase budget absorption,’ he said.

Beyond physical readiness, the Ministry is also finalising the student selection mechanism, particularly in locations where applicants exceed the quota. The selection process will be conducted transparently and involve local governments to ensure that accepted students genuinely come from families with the highest levels of social and economic vulnerability. Saifullah Yusuf noted that the high public interest in Sekolah Rakyat demonstrates the significant need for educational access among vulnerable groups. Consequently, the government is also preparing various alternatives so that children who are not accommodated can still obtain proper education.

Regarding human resources, the Ministry is accelerating the recruitment process for teachers, guardians, dormitory supervisors, and education personnel. Staff placement is targeted for completion before MPLS begins so that all schools are ready to conduct teaching and learning activities at the start of the academic year. For the MPLS implementation, Saifullah Yusuf instructed all schools to prepare activities that are educational, child-friendly, and free from violent practices or potentially controversial activities. ‘The purpose of MPLS is to introduce the school environment and build a spirit of learning. There must be no physical violence or activities that burden students. Many children come from vulnerable backgrounds, so the approach must be humanistic and enjoyable,’ he said.

Deputy Minister Agus Jabo Priyono also reported the results of cross-ministerial coordination at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture. The President has given special attention to character building, discipline, and neatness of Sekolah Rakyat students. As a follow-up, the Ministry of Defence will support the character-building programme by assigning cadets to Sekolah Rakyat environments. Five cadets will be placed at each school to assist with student discipline development. Approximately 1,000 cadets are scheduled to begin deployment in early August 2026 and will serve for about one week at the schools. Through the finalisation of these various aspects, the Ministry of Social Affairs is targeting all Sekolah Rakyat to be ready to hold MPLS on 14 July 2026, providing a safe, comfortable, and memorable initial experience for students beginning their educational journey.