Gus Ipul: Next Year, People's Schools Are Targeted to Accommodate More than 100 Thousand Students

Gus Ipul: Next year, the People's School is targeted to accommodate more than 100 thousand students. (Capture YouTube Presidential Secretariat)

TABANAN - The government targets a sharp increase in the capacity of People's Schools in the next two years as dozens of permanent schools are being built in various areas.

Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf or Gus Ipul said that currently there are more than 15,000 students who have participated in the People's School program. In the 2026-2027 school year, the government added a quota of more than 32,000 students.

With this addition, the number of students in the People's School this year is estimated to reach more than 45,000 students.

"Next year, more than 100 thousand students, God willing," said Gus Ipul when accompanying President Prabowo Subianto to review the 17 Tabanan SRMP, Bali, Sunday (7/6).

According to Gus Ipul, the increase in capacity is supported by the construction of a permanent People's School building which is underway in various regions of Indonesia.

Currently, there are 93 points of construction of permanent schools that are in the process. One of them is in Karangasem Regency, Bali.

Gus Ipul explained that all permanent schools were designed as boarding schools equipped with classrooms, laboratories, libraries, sports facilities, dining rooms, and extracurricular activities.

"This is the direction of the President," he said.

He added that the construction of a permanent school is an important step to expand access to education for children from poor families, children who drop out of school, and other vulnerable groups.

According to Gus Ipul, the increase in capacity is expected to make more children who have difficulty accessing education can get a decent learning opportunity again.