Banyuwangi, East Java (ANTARA) - Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf and Banyuwangi District Head Ipuk Fiestiandani signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on technical cooperation for implementing People's Schools.

The MoU signing took place at the Social Affairs Ministry's Aneka Bhakti building in Jakarta on Thursday.

Yusuf stated that Banyuwangi was among the first regions to launch People's Schools, as it had fulfilled all requirements, including infrastructure, student readiness, and teaching staff.

"Based on the assessment by the Public Works Ministry, Banyuwangi is declared eligible as a pilot People's School," he noted in a statement received here on Thursday.

The ministry has established two types of People's Schools: pilot People's Schools and permanent People's Schools.

According to the minister, the pilot People's Schools are schools that utilize assets deemed suitable by the Public Works Ministry, such as buildings owned by the Social Affairs Ministry or other ministries and institutions.

"These include buildings proposed by local governments, universities, or others, which are then deemed suitable by the Public Works Ministry," he remarked.

In addition to Banyuwangi, Yusuf stated that the pilot People's Schools will open in 63 regions simultaneously on July 14, with 37 other regions to follow by the end of July, pending the completion of facilities and infrastructure.

Currently, the pilot People's Schools have 9,755 students, 1,554 teachers, and 3,390 educational staff.

"We have tested the learning materials in simulations and will distribute them to each location (of the People's Schools)," the minister stated.

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Furthermore, the Social Affairs Ministry, along with the Public Works Ministry, plans to build around 100 permanent People's Schools, with construction planned to start in September 2025.

Yusuf noted that the People's Schools program was initiated by President Prabowo Subianto and is stipulated in Presidential Instruction Number 8 of 2025 to optimize poverty alleviation and eliminate extreme poverty.

"People's Schools are President Subianto's major strategy to expand access to education and prepare the golden generation of 2045," he noted.

Meanwhile, Fiestiandani stated that the Banyuwangi People's School will be located in the former Civil Servant Education and Training Center building in Tamansari Village, Licin Sub-district. The building has been renovated to function as both a school and a dormitory.

"We chose the education and training center building because its structure and facilities are close to those of a boarding school, which has been renovated by the Public Works Ministry," Fiestiandani remarked.

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