President: People's Schools on the Road to Change the Fate of Poor Children, Target 500 Schools

BANJARBARU - President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that People's Schools are the main instrument of the state to break the chain of extreme poverty.

The statement was made by President Prabowo during a speech to inaugurate the People's School in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, Monday, January 12.

Prabowo said the government had inaugurated 166 People's Schools which were intended for children from extremely poor families. This program targets the construction of 500 schools by 2029. Each school is designed to accommodate around 1,000 students.

"Currently, there are only about 15 thousand students. At the end of the year, it is estimated to be 30 thousand. In the end, our target is 500 thousand children," said Prabowo.

He called the People's School a concrete way to change the fate of the poorest groups, especially desil 1 and 2. The target is clear, to eradicate extreme poverty before his term ends.

In his speech, Prabowo also touched on the great achievements of the food sector. He stated that Indonesia officially achieved rice self-sufficiency on December 31, 2025, despite being hit by El Nino and La Nina throughout 2024-2025. National rice production and government reserves are now at the highest level in Indonesia's history.

However, according to Prabowo, economic and food success will not mean anything without education equality. The President highlighted the shortage of hundreds of thousands of doctors in Indonesia and ensured that the country would open new medical and engineering campuses that would be fully funded by the government.

"I want the children of scavengers to be doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, even generals," said Prabowo.

The President emphasized that education is the key to eradicating poverty and hunger.

Prabowo invited the entire nation to unite, dare to face difficulties, and ensure that state funds are not corrupt so that the future of Indonesian children will really change.