1.508 Prasejahtera Children Study at Four Sulsel People's Schools

1.508 children from pre-prosperous families in South Sulawesi Province officially started the new school year at four Integrated People's Schools (SRT). (Photo: Doc. Ministry of PU)

JAKARTA - A total of 1,508 children from pre-prosperous families in South Sulawesi Province officially started the new school year at four Integrated People's Schools (SRT).

Their presence marked the start of the operation of boarding schools built by the government as an effort to break the chain of poverty through access to education.

This is because the Ministry of Public Works (PU) has ensured that four Integrated People's Schools in Barru Regency, Sidenreng Rappang (Sidrap), Tana Toraja and Bone have carried out the School Environment Introduction Period (MPLS) since July 31, 2026 as part of the start of the 2026/2027 School Year.

According to Minister PU Dody Hanggodo, the construction of the People's School is part of President Prabowo Subianto's direction to expand access to education for children from pre-prosperous families as well as being one of the strategies for poverty alleviation.

"People's schools are the main program to eradicate poverty. By educating children from pre-prosperous families, they are expected to improve the quality of life of their families from pre-prosperous to prosperous, as well as preparing the Indonesian Golden Generation 2045," said Dody as quoted from a written statement, Friday, August 7.

As learning activities begin, the PU Ministry continues to perfect various supporting utilities so that all facilities can function optimally.

At the Barru Regency Integrated People's School, for example, the acceleration of the completion of the clean water supply system was carried out through the connection of the PDAM network and cross-agency coordination with the local government.

During the process, the students' need for clean water was still met through the distribution of tanker cars, so that the implementation of MPLS and teaching activities were not disrupted.

Through the Strategic Infrastructure Implementation Task Force (Satker PS) of South Sulawesi Province, the Ministry of PU is building a People's School as an integrated education area.

The educational infrastructure is equipped with classrooms for elementary, middle and high schools, laboratories, student dormitories, teachers' apartments, multipurpose buildings, mosques, canteens, kitchens and waste treatment facilities, clean water supply systems, sports fields and various other supporting facilities.

All of these infrastructures are designed to create a safe, comfortable learning environment and support the formation of the character of students through the boarding education system.

Of the total 1,508 students who started participating in the learning activities, 446 students were in Sidrap, 393 students in Barru, 340 students in Tana Toraja and 329 students in Bone.

Entering the new school year, the People's School area is beginning to be filled with educational activities.

The students came with their parents and were greeted by the principal, teachers and guardians who would accompany them during the learning process and life in the dormitory.

Overall, the PU Ministry has built nine Integrated People's Schools in South Sulawesi, whose implementation of MPLS is carried out gradually.

With the start of operation of these four schools, seven of the nine People's Schools in South Sulawesi have implemented MPLS, namely in Makassar City, Takalar Regency, Sinjai, Barru, Sidrap, Tana Toraja and Bone.

Meanwhile, the People's Schools in Soppeng and Wajo regencies are scheduled to start MPLS in the next wave after the completion of the final phase of supporting utilities, so that all facilities are ready to be used from the start of learning activities.

The Directorate General of Strategic Infrastructure emphasized that the success of the construction of the People's School is not only measured by the completion of construction, but also by the functioning of infrastructure in supporting the education process.

When the classroom is filled with learning activities, teachers carry out learning and students get a safe and comfortable educational environment, infrastructure development is considered to have provided real benefits for the community.

The construction of the People's School is part of the implementation of President Prabowo Subianto's Astacita to expand access to education for children from poor and extreme poor families.

The program is also in line with the PU 608 Vision, especially the target of zero percent poverty through the provision of educational infrastructure that expands access to basic services while improving the quality of human resources.

Through synergy with local governments and related ministries/institutions, the Ministry of PU continues to provide safe, functional and sustainable educational infrastructure as a foundation for a sovereign, just and prosperous Indonesia.