“We are assisting in developing the curriculum for Sekolah Rakyat. One of the key areas we are working on is child nurturing, which is currently being finalized and will be included in the official guidelines,” KPAI chairperson Ai Maryati Solihah said after a dialogue with children in Jakarta on Thursday.
She made the statement in response to concerns about the potential for violence among children in a boarding school environment, where close peer interactions can sometimes lead to conflicts such as bullying.
She informed that children at Sekolah Rakyat will live together like a family, therefore, character education, such as learning about the value of mutual respect, will be an essential aspect of their daily life.
“That’s why we’ve included elements of child protection in the care system implemented at these schools,” she said.
Solihah informed that the KPAI is finalizing the module and plans to officially launch it with the Ministry of Social Affairs later this month.
The goal, she said, is to ensure that such schools become safe spaces that minimize violence and other risks for vulnerable children from an early age.
“Because many of these children come from families with limited access to quality education. That’s why child protection within foster care and the school system is crucial,” Solihah explained.
Earlier, Minister of Social Affairs, Saifullah Yusuf, observed a two-day pilot simulation of a Sekolah Rakyat, held from July 9–10, 2025, ahead of its official opening on July 14. During the simulation, students stayed in their dormitories for 24 hours.
Sekolah Rakyat is a program initiated by President Prabowo Subianto to support children from poor and extremely poor families. The free boarding schools will cater to students from the elementary, junior high, and high school levels.
This year, 100 pilot Sekolah Rakyat locations are set to open in stages across Indonesia. Sixty-three locations will open on July 14, and the remaining 37 are scheduled to begin operations by the end of this month.
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Translator: Yoanita Hastryka Djohan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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