Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf said on Wednesday that Sekolah Rakyat principals will be appointed from experienced educators, while teachers will be recruited from contract government staff or candidates selected by the ministry.
“Everyone must go through a transparent and legal selection process,” he said.
Yusuf explained that interviews for the first phase of recruitment are currently underway and will be completed within two or three days. Once finished, appointment letters will be issued, and the selected individuals will be officially integrated into the Sekolah Rakyat program.
Under the decree, both principals and teachers will be considered staff members of the Ministry of Social Affairs.
He noted that some candidates have withdrawn from the selection process, citing reasons such as job uncertainty, remote school locations, or receiving other employment offers.
“There are indeed some who have withdrawn, but it should be clarified that they are only candidates — not officially appointed principals or teachers. This is a normal part of the process,” Yusuf said.
He emphasized that many people remain enthusiastic about joining the program, with strong interest from aspiring educators.
Sekolah Rakyat is a government-run boarding school initiative aimed at providing access to education for children from underprivileged and extremely poor families.
The first phase of the program is set to launch on July 14 at 100 locations across the country, involving at least 9,755 students, 1,554 teachers, and 3,990 other education staff.
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Translator: Mecca Yumna Ning Prisie
Editor: Anton Santoso
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