59 Additional People's Schools Operated September 2025

Illustration of people's schools (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - A total of 59 additional People's Schools are scheduled to operate in September. With this addition, a total of 159 points of People's Schools begin the learning process in the 2025/2026 school year.

Certainty regarding the number of People's Schools that have and will begin the learning process was decided in a limited meeting of ministers with President Prabowo Subianto at the State Palace, last night.

"Alhamdulillah, the President has agreed that 159 (people's School points) will be the final number for the 2025/2026 Academic Year," said Secretary General (Secretary General) of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Robben Rico while attending the Preparation Meeting for Handover of People's School Assets Phase 1 of the 2025/2026 Academic Year at the Pangudi Luhur Integrated Center (STPL), Bekasi, West Java, Wednesday, July 30.

Of the 159 points in question, 63 startups have started the School Environment Recognition Period (MPLS) since July 14, 2025. Then, 37 other points followed at the end of July until early August 2025. Meanwhile, 59 additional points are targeted to start running in September 2025 with 200 groups learning from elementary, junior high, and high school levels.

Robben explained, 159 points of People's Schools targeted to run in 2025 are spread from Sumatra to Papua. A total of 620 study groups will accommodate 15,370 students, ranging from elementary, junior high, to high school levels. The learning process will be supported by 2,407 teachers and 4,442 education staff.

The distribution of locations covers 34 points in Sumatra, 65 in Java, 7 in Bali and Nusa Tenggara, 13 in Kalimantan, 28 in Sulawesi, 7 in Maluku, and 5 in Papua.

Although the target of 159 points in the 2025/2026 academic year has been met, Robben said the Ministry of Social Affairs would still accommodate new proposals for the implementation of the People's School if any local government proposed it.

"It's okay, we will still accept (the proposal). Then, later we will list the new school year," he explained.

On this occasion Robben thanked the Directorate General (Ditjen) of Strategic Infrastructure of the Ministry of Public Works for working hard to renovate facilities belonging to the Ministry of Social Affairs, starting from the center building to the hall, for the People's School. So that all these buildings can be used for the implementation of start-ups before being moved to permanent locations.

"Yesterday night, the President's appreciation was also conveyed to all of us as a team that all of our team's friends, consisting of various ministries/agencies, local governments, and friends from the private sector who worked together to create this People's School. Alhamdulillah, we can answer the challenges given by the President," said Robben.

Meanwhile, the Director of Education Support Infrastructure at the Directorate General of Strategic Infrastructure of the Ministry of Public Works, Jonny Zainuri Echsan, is grateful that the renovation work can be completed properly.

"We are grateful that shortly after the completion of the first day, the original renovation buildings can be used immediately. We have even been visited by state officials and witnessed together how enthusiastic students and parents are taking advantage of the results of our renovations. Once again, we from the Directorate of Strategic Infrastructure are honored to receive this assignment, helping to realize the basic ideals of our country, advancing the life of the nation through the preparation of the People's School," he said.

Like the saying, there is no ivory that is not cracked, Jonny believes that nothing is perfect in this world. Moreover, the renovation process took place in a short time. He realized there were still shortcomings and would perfect it as best as possible.

"We understand that after implementation there are shortcomings here and there in its implementation. But of course in this first step it will be our best practice together in preparing the next stages, especially in stage two which we are finalizing the design," he concluded.