Social Minister Says People's Schools Made Boarding to Allow Students to Grow and Develop

The sole objective of the People’s School is to break the transmission of poverty. President Prabowo Subianto does not want children to remain poor simply because their parents are poor,” said Agus Jabo in his statement on Wednesday (13/5/2026).

He made these remarks while receiving an audience from the regional governments of Lima Puluh Kota, Banyuasin, Central Lampung, and the DPRD of Aceh Singkil at the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) office in Jakarta on Wednesday (13/5).

He explained that the boarding school concept addresses public questions about why the government is not simply improving existing regular schools.

According to Agus Jabo, the main issue for poor children is not just access to education, but also the environment in which they grow and develop.

“If they attend regular school from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and then go home. Their home is not decent. They eat only once a day, there’s no lamp for studying, their social interactions are unclear. How can they develop? That’s the President’s point; this needs to be handled, and the state will take care of it,” he said.

Agus Jabo noted that based on data, more than 64 percent of children from poor families are at risk of experiencing intergenerational poverty if the state does not intervene.

Therefore, the government’s intervention is comprehensive, not only through education but also targeting the economic conditions and housing of the students’ families.

“The President’s order is that (their economy) is also taken care of. The parents’ economy is managed, damaged houses are repaired,” he said.

Kemensos, continued Agus Jabo, has collaborated with the Ministry of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP) regarding the repair of poor families’ homes. In this collaboration, the Ministry of PKP is ready to renovate around 10,000 homes of People’s School students’ parents this year.

The People’s School is one of President Prabowo Subianto’s priority programmes in tackling poverty and eliminating extreme poverty through education.

Furthermore, the pilot People’s School programme is already running at 166 locations and accommodating 15,954 students. This year, 104 permanent schools are targeted to be ready to start learning activities in July 2026. With this addition, the People’s School is projected to accommodate tens of thousands of students throughout 2026.

“The President wants it fast, many, and (of the) best quality,” said Agus Jabo.

Although intended for poor communities in deciles 1 and 2 of the National Social and Economic Single Data (DTSEN), the People’s School facilities are prepared on par with elite schools. Each school will be equipped with integrated educational and dormitory facilities, including laboratories, libraries, sports facilities, and auditoriums.

Agus Jabo emphasised that the President also wants every district and city to have at least one People’s School as an effort to expand access to education for poor families.

“The President has ordered that every district/city has at least one (People’s School),” he said.

In addition to education and learning facilities, the government also covers the basic needs of all students while pursuing education at the People’s School, including three meals a day, two snacks a day, 8 uniforms, and 4 pairs of shoes.

Furthermore, graduates of the People’s School will be facilitated according to their respective interests and potentials, either to continue education to higher levels or to become skilled workers.

The Regent of Lima Puluh Kota, Safni Sikumbang, welcomed the People’s School programme positively and stated his region’s readiness to build the school.

“Regarding the land (for People’s School), the Minister asked for 8 hectares, we gave 10 hectares. Other preparations are also being prepared,” said Safni.

On the other hand, the Head of the Social Service of Banyuasin Regency, Salni Fajar, proposed alternative land in Mulya Agung Village, Banyuasin III Subdistrict, after the previous land proposal did not meet the Ministry of Public Works criteria.

“The Regent’s order is to prepare alternative land, alhamdulillah we got one near the regency office complex of 6.5 hectares,” said Salni.

For information, those present at the meeting included Minister’s Expert Budi Prasetyo, Head of the Centre for Data and Social Welfare Information Joko Widiarto, Director of Empowerment for Poor and Vulnerable Families Radik Karsadiguna, Acting Director of Social Protection for Disaster Victims Masryani Mansyur, and Sekber People’s School Jauhari.

Also present were officials from the Lima Puluh Kota Regency Government, namely the Head of Social Service Indra Suryani and the Head of Environmental, Housing, and Settlement Areas Service Nono Sukri. From the Banyuasin Regency Government were the Regent’s Expert Asro Lambo and Chair of Commission III of the Banyuasin DPRD Arisa Lahari.

Meanwhile, from the Aceh Singkil DPRD were the Chair of the NasDem Faction Desra Novianto, Chair of the Legislation Body from the NasDem Faction Warman, and Deputy Chair of Commission I from the Golkar Faction Surianto. As well as the Head of Social Service of Central Lampung Ari Nugraha Mukti.