"Through Sekolah Rakyat, we will break the cycle (of poverty) quickly and effectively, especially those in decile 1 (extremely poor)," he stated here on Tuesday.
Iskandar remarked that by August 2025, the number of operational Sekolah Rakyat will reach 100 schools.
The program is being implemented based on President Prabowo Subianto's directive, as outlined in Presidential Instruction Number 8 of 2025 on the Optimization of Poverty Alleviation and Extreme Poverty Eradication.
He explained that the Sekolah Rakyat program is part of the efforts to alleviate poverty, as it is a form of community empowerment through the provision of quality education.
"Through education, students from extremely poor families will gain competitiveness and capabilities to become independent using the knowledge they gained," he stated.
The Indonesian Constitution also mandates that 20 percent of the state budget be utilized to provide education for the community.
In the Sekolah Rakyat program, the intended beneficiaries are children from extremely poor families, as verified by the National Single Social and Economic Data (DTSEN).
The Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment continues to coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to ensure the optimal implementation of Presidential Instruction Number 8 of 2025.
This collaboration aims to achieve the target of zero percent extreme poverty by 2026, as mandated by President Prabowo Subianto.
Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf has stated that at least 9,700 students will begin attending the tuition-free schools this month under the Sekolah Rakyat program.
Currently, the Ministry of Health is conducting free health screenings for prospective Sekolah Rakyat students to assess their health and prevent the transmission of diseases in school dormitories.
Related news: Tuition-free Sekolah Rakyat program begins for 9,700 students
Related news: No admission tests for Sekolah Rakyat students: minister
Translator: Anita Permata, Raka Adji
Editor: Arie Novarina
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
