The Smile that is Recovering: When School Chairs are No Longer a Luxury

TANGERANG - For some children, school desks may be just a normal daily routine. However, for tens of thousands of children who have been forced to leave the classroom - or even never set foot in it - a study table is a luxury that has never been affordable.

The atmosphere of sadness and warmth enveloped the area of the Indonesian Flight Polytechnic Curug, Tangerang Regency, Banten, on Sunday afternoon. In the midst of laughter and noise of participants in the Preparation for the Introduction of the School Environment (MPLS) of the Integrated People's School (SRT) 8, the hopes that had been dim began to be lit again.

In front of children who carry various backgrounds of life struggle stories, Cabinet Secretary Lieutenant Colonel Teddy Indra Wijaya greeted them one by one. He listened to the honest words from the small mouths of children who were previously marginalized by circumstances.

"People's School is the way the President wants all children in Indonesia to be able to go to school. Those who don't go to school can go to school, those who drop out of school can continue to go to school, those who have never gone to school can go to school," said Lieutenant Colonel Teddy, looking warmly at the rows of young faces who are now wearing uniforms again.

For Teddy, returning these children to the classroom is not just about giving them books, pencils, and seats. This is an effort to restore dignity and give them the courage to return to embrace dreams that had been buried.

"So that those who used to have no dreams, until they can finally dream and have big ambitions," he added.

New Home to Change Destiny

Present to accompany at the location, Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul) and Deputy Minister of Social Affairs Agus Jabo Priyono witnessed the laughter of the children who are now ready to start a new chapter in their lives.

Gus Ipul revealed that the People's School was born as a form of real partisanship from President Prabowo Subianto's idea for marginalized families who have often been left out of development equalization.

In order for these children to focus on their dreams without having to worry about the burden of daily expenses or the limitations of the family's economy, the People's School is designed with a boarding house concept. Here, all the children's living and learning needs are fully met by the state.

For Gus Ipul, no child deserves to feel defeated just because of their birth circumstances. Poverty should not be a reason to break the chain of the future.

"Every student is valuable," said Gus Ipul.

Reaching Tens of Thousands of Dreams

Now, no less than 43 thousand children in various parts of the country have been touched by the People's School program. Tens of thousands of children who used to think their future was closed, now have the same stage to stand up and aspire to be whatever they want - whether it's a soldier, minister, doctor, or flight pilot.

That day in Curug, among the ranks of children who smiled shyly but had bright eyes, a new line of destiny was being written. They are no longer just witnesses of development, but the owners of Indonesia's future.