The Vibrant Speech of the Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf in Banjarbaru, the People's School for Children of the State

BANJARBARU - Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf could not hold back his tears after delivering a speech at the inauguration of a pilot People's School in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, today.

In his speech, he emphasized the government's determination to raise the status of children from poor families through access to education.

In front of President Prabowo Subianto, Saifullah asked the Head of State to inaugurate the People's School Program which has spread to 166 points throughout Indonesia.

"Because I consider this a history, bismillahirrahmanirrahim. We want to make sure that this idea is remembered as a historical event," said Saifullah Yusuf with a trembling voice quoted from Antara, Monday, January 12.

The People's School is designed to ensure that children who have been on the edge of development can stand on par with other children in nation-building and state-building.

This program is one of the government's priorities targeting families with the lowest economic level, namely desil 1 to 4 in the National Socio-Economic Single Data (DTSEN).

According to Saifullah, the People's School is designed as a model for integrated poverty alleviation by integrating various state services, such as Free Health Checks, Free Nutritious Meals, PBI-JK health insurance, Red and White Village Cooperatives, and the Three Million House Program for beneficiary student families.

Based on data from the Ministry of Social Affairs, by 2025, 166 pilot People's Schools have been built with a capacity of nearly 16,000 students. This program is supported by around 2,400 teachers and more than 4,000 education personnel at the elementary, junior high, and high school or equivalent levels.

"In those days, when children on the banks of rivers, hillsides, and corners of the country stood side by side in the middle of this nation, people would say quietly, there was once a President who planted hope and named it the People's School," said Saifullah.

He emphasized that the People's School concept is an initiative of President Prabowo Subianto which aims to break the chain of poverty through free and quality education for children from poor and extreme poor families.

After delivering a speech, the Minister of Social Affairs was seen shedding tears when he got off the podium. He bowed as a sign of respect to President Prabowo Subianto, who then greeted him by embracing his shoulder before the two sat side by side.