“The President (Prabowo Subianto) wants our children to be part of the generation that welcomes Golden Indonesia 2045,” he said while meeting with officials from Central Papua and North Sumatra, according to a statement received here on Thursday.
The meeting was attended by Central Papua Governor Meki Nawipa; the mayor of North Sumatra’s Sibolga, Akhmad Syukri Nazry Penarik; and the head of Papua’s Nabire district, Mesak Magai. It was held at the Social Affairs Ministry’s office in Jakarta on Wednesday.
According to Priyono, the Sekolah Rakyat free boarding school program is also expected to help break the intergenerational cycle of poverty by equipping children with knowledge and skills tailored to their regional potential.
Through Sekolah Rakyat, children from underprivileged families will not only receive an education but also gain skills that align with the potential of their regions.
“Sekolah Rakyat also serves as a collaboration platform across ministries and agencies to accelerate human resource development,” he added.
Meanwhile, during the meeting, Central Papua Governor Nawipa proposed the development of a Sekolah Rakyat in Nabire.
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“We are requesting the Social Affairs Ministry to consider establishing a Sekolah Rakyat in Nabire,” he said.
He noted that six out of eight districts in Central Papua are conflict-prone areas, with many children from the regions forced to evacuate their homes and thereby, unable to attend school.
“There is a 10-hectare plot of land in Nabire. If the policy can be approved this year, displaced children can go to school again,” he said.
A similar request was made by Sibolga Mayor Penarik, who expressed strong support for the Sekolah Rakyat program, saying his administration has allocated a 12-hectare plot of land for the initiative.
He said that many children in Sibolga drop out of school to help their parents sell fish. Therefore, the establishment of Sekolah Rakyat would greatly benefit the local community.
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Translator: Tri, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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