Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Presidential Communication Office (PCO) ensured that supervision will be implemented to prevent bullying and similar incidents at the government-supported tuition-free schools under the Sekolah Rakyat program.

Adita Irawati, an expert staff member at the PCO, stated in a podcast with ANTARA here on Friday that based on simulations, Sekolah Rakyat schools, which adopt a boarding school concept, will employ a learning management system to enable digital supervision.

Based on simulations conducted for the program, this supervision can be applied at all educational levels within Sekolah Rakyat.

She noted that the government hopes this system can be implemented in all Sekolah Rakyat schools throughout Indonesia.

Irawati acknowledged that some parties have raised concerns about the potential for bullying in boarding schools. However, the government has adopted the boarding school model as a means to prevent such incidents in Sekolah Rakyat.

"There will also be supervisors who will reside at the school for 24 hours to ensure supervision and smooth teaching and learning processes," she remarked.

At the initial stage of implementation, Sekolah Rakyat schools will not enroll a large number of students. She noted that each school will accommodate a maximum of 100 students who will study and live in the boarding school.

The Sekolah Rakyat program, which is aimed at children from poor and extremely poor families, seeks to break the cycle of poverty in Indonesia, in accordance with Presidential Instruction Number 8 of 2025 on the Optimization of Poverty Alleviation and Extreme Poverty Eradication.

A total of 63 Sekolah Rakyat schools are scheduled to begin operations on July 14, 2025. Meanwhile, an additional 37 schools are expected to open in late July or early August 2025.

In the next phase of the program, the government plans to add 100 more schools, as directed by President Prabowo Subianto.

Related news: KPAI prepares child protection module for Sekolah Rakyat

Related news: Sekolah Rakyat admissions to remain free, fair: Minister

Related news: Ministry readies 9 thousand laptops for Sekolah Rakyat