The Ministry Of Social Affairs Completes The People's School Concept Which Is Scheduled For July 2025

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Social Affairs is increasingly finalizing the plan to organize the People's School which is scheduled to start in the 2025-2026 school year.

In a meeting chaired by President Prabowo Subianto on Monday, March 10 at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, the ranks of the Ministers of the Red and White Cabinet discussed various important aspects related to this program, including locations, curriculum, infrastructure, and student admission mechanisms.

"We report that as of today there are more than 50 locations, 53 locations, to be precise, who are ready to organize this People's School. However, the data will continue to grow because in the next two to three days we will coordinate with the governors, regents and mayors, where the preparations we make are parallel," said Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, March 11.

He said this program would start running no later than July 2025 in areas that were ready for infrastructure and supporting it.

"In terms of facilities and infrastructure, we are ready at 41 centers and Balai milik Kementerian Sosial. Then in East Java there are nine, then there are two universities, and one in West Sumatra. A total of 53 locations are ready," added the Minister of Social Affairs.

According to the Minister of Social Affairs, President Prabowo requested that this program be finalized and could cover as many regions as possible.

"In principle, the President asked what we had planned to continue to be finalized, followed up, and as many regions as possible could participate in this first opportunity," he said.

People's Schools will provide free quality education for children from poor and extreme poor families. The government targets students to come from the decile category one and two in the National Economic Sole Social Data.

Selection will be carried out in stages, starting with verification of economic status, followed by academic tests.

People's schools will be opened for elementary, junior high and high school levels with national education standards. In addition to formal subjects, the curriculum will also emphasize the strengthening of character, leadership, nationalism, and skills.

The Minister of Social Affairs emphasized that People's Schools are free schools and all student needs will be met in their implementation.

"Schools are free of one hundred percent. Uniforms, meals, are all free, and there are dormitories for students to live in," said the Minister of Social Affairs.

The Minister of Social Affairs added that the People's School program is a collaboration across ministries, institutions, and local governments.

He said the recruitment of students and teachers was planned to start at the end of March or early April 2025 after obtaining the President's approval.

"If all goes according to plan, registration will be open in the next one to two months," said the Minister of Social Affairs.

People's Schools are expected to be an inclusive education model that can lift children from poor families out of poverty.

This program is also a strategic step in realizing the vision of Indonesia Gold 2045.