Gus Ipul Calls Student Talents Planned Since The Beginning Of People's Schools

JAKARTA - Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf or who is familiarly called Gus Ipul said the People's School program became the first school in Indonesia to map student talents and talents from the start through talent mapping.

"A total of 50.5 percent of People's School students have a tendency to learn kinestics, and this is in accordance with our teaching style of 53.5 percent of teachers," he quoted Antara as saying.

According to him, this mapping technique was developed by Dr. Ari Ginanjar, founder of the ESQ Leadership Center as well as a technical team for the preparation of the first phase of the People's School so that students can be directed according to their respective interests and talents.

Initial mapping data shows 23 percent of students have the potential in the field of engineering and information technology, 23.9 percent in the field of education and law, 22.9 percent in the health sector, 11.6 percent in the arts and media sectors, and the rest in other sectors including fisheries, plantations, and the profession of ASN/TNI/Polri to the president.

The Minister of Social Affairs explained that graduates of the People's School will be projected to be able to continue to higher education levels as well as direct work and entrepreneurship with their skills.

"With strong characters and relevant skills, they are expected to be agents of change in their environment as well as breaking the chain of poverty," he said.

He emphasized that this program is proof of the state's alignment with the small community.

"From the People's School, the dream of children who were originally invisible is now starting to grow together," he said.

People's Schools are also referred to as a miniature of integrated poverty alleviation because students come from families with the lowest welfare level in the Socio-Economic Single Data (DTSEN).

In addition to access to dormitory-based quality education, People's Schools are also integrated with government priority programs such as free health checks, free nutritious meals, health insurance, Red and White Village Cooperatives, and three million houses for students and their families.

Meanwhile, the briefing from President Prabowo was attended by 154 school principals and 2,221 People's School teachers for the Elementary School (SD), Junior High School (SMP), High School (SMA) spread across various regions ranging from Aceh - Papua.

The Ministry of Social Affairs confirmed that currently 100 People's Schools are operating in various regions, and are targeted to increase the total to 165 points by September 2025 with a capacity of 15,895 students, supported by 2,407 teachers and 4,442 educators.