Palace Opened for Students, Prabowo Wants to Plant Dreams Early

Istana Merdeka Jakarta (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Presidential Palace has started to be opened for school children. This policy is a direct instruction from President Prabowo Subianto as part of efforts to instill great ideals to the younger generation from an early age.

Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said the program was not just a regular visit, but was designed as a means of national education.

"The President wants to open the palace for schoolchildren, for the next generation of the nation," Teddy said at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday, April 7.

In this activity, students are invited to discuss, follow the question and answer session, tour the palace, and get to know the history of the nation. They are also introduced to important spaces where the country's decision-making is made.

According to Teddy, the President wants children to understand that the Palace is a symbol of the country that is close to the people, not an exclusive place.

This program is also in line with the government's focus on human resource development, through various programs such as providing nutritious meals, renovating schools, strengthening digital learning facilities, to improving the welfare of teachers.

Teddy added that the visit program not only took place in Jakarta, but would also be implemented in all presidential palaces in various regions.

He said Indonesia has eight presidential palaces that will be used for similar activities, so students from various regions can participate.

Schools from outside Jakarta, including outside Java Island, can register through the Ministry of State Secretariat or the Cabinet Secretariat. All levels of education, from elementary school to high school, are given the opportunity to participate in this program.

"Visits will be arranged in turns, one to two times a week," said Teddy.

He added that many students were seeing the Palace for the first time. During the visit, they were able to enter the President's room, the minister's room, to the guest reception room.

"The president wants children to experience the atmosphere of the Palace, not just see it from the outside," he said.