Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government’s free school program, Sekolah Rakyat (People’s School), will implement three types of curricula to support both academic learning and character development.

“We have divided the curriculum into three parts. The first is a preparatory curriculum before formal schooling begins. The second follows the national formal school curriculum. The third focuses on life skills education,” said Mohammad Nuh, Chairperson of the Sekolah Rakyat Formation Team, on Tuesday.

He made the statement following a ministerial coordination meeting on Sekolah Rakyat’s infrastructure and facilities at the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Nuh emphasized that the three curricula are designed to complement each other, with no overlap in their implementation.

He explained that the preparatory curriculum will run for two weeks before formal classes begin, aiming to build students’ physical readiness and discipline.

This phase also includes character-building activities, such as instilling discipline and neatness through sports and marching exercises.

“We teach them how to exercise, how to march properly, and how to stay neat and tidy,” he said.

Regarding the formal curriculum, Nuh noted that Sekolah Rakyat is ready to adopt digital-based learning to keep pace with the digital era.

This includes not only classroom activities but also school management systems such as student attendance tracking through facial recognition or fingerprint scanners.

“These students are digital natives, living in a digital era with a digital culture. So we are making sure the infrastructure supports digital-based learning,” he added.

In the evenings, the school will implement the third curriculum, which focuses on character education, national values, and a deeper understanding of religious teachings.

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Translator: Hana, Kenzu
Editor: Anton Santoso
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