Bogor Becomes Host For The Launch Of People's Schools: Elementary To High School Free

Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul) together with West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi at Cibinong Regency Government, Bogor Regency, Thursday, March 14, 2025 (doc Bogor Regency Government)

BOGOR - The Bogor Regency Government hosted the launch of the People's School formation which was attended by Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul), Governor of West Java Dedi Mulyadi, Regent of Bogor Rudy Susmanto, as well as regents and mayors throughout West Java.

This launch is packaged through the Coordination and Socialization Meeting of the Formation of People's Schools which will take place in the Multipurpose Room I of the Bogor Regency Secretariat, Thursday, March 13.

The Indonesian Minister of Social Affairs, Saifullah Yusuf, revealed that the People's School is intended for residents classified as poor or extreme poor. This school will receive students who are in decile 1 and 2 in single socio-economic data, namely the lowest 10 percent of the Indonesian population.

"People's Schools are designed for boarding schools and are completely free, including clothing needs, school tools, as well as eating and drinking," said Social Minister Gus Ipul.

In the future, this school will hold education ranging from elementary, junior high, to high school. It is estimated that around 300 to 350 students per education level, with a target of around one thousand students in one school.

Gus Ipul added that the formation of this school will be carried out in stages, starting this year taking into account the conditions and readiness of each region. For Bogor Regency, the Minister of Social Affairs emphasized that this area is one of the priorities in the formation of the People's School.

The Governor of West Java, Dedi Mulyadi, welcomed this initiative. He explained that poverty is a culture, and the pattern of poor life often makes individuals trapped in poverty.

He said the People's School program is expected to change mindset and open access to better education, so that children from poor families not only have the opportunity to learn, but also connect with various opportunities, including access to superior schools and military academies.

"Children who come from poor families must be given access to proper education, so that they have the opportunity to achieve a better future, not stuck in a lifestyle that keeps repeating itself," he explained.

Furthermore, Dedi Mulyadi also conveyed the importance of connectivity between education programs and efforts to create a new middle class in West Java.

One concrete step that is being prepared is the diploma 3 and S1 programs in engineering to create a skilled and ready-to-compete workforce in the industrial world.

Dedi said, with the presence of this program, it is hoped that it can create more equitable educational opportunities and provide opportunities for children from underprivileged families to access quality education, and create a more competitive generation in the future.

Regents and mayors throughout West Java were presented to provide input regarding regional readiness in providing land or assets that could be used to establish People's Schools.

"These schools are expected to start construction this year with an allocation of around 200 schools throughout Indonesia, with West Java being one of the most prioritized provinces," added Dedi.