“Based on our inspection, we can confirm that the renovation of this site is progressing ahead of schedule, about 12 percent faster. The target is for this building to be ready for use by early August,” the ministry’s secretary-general, Robben Rico, said.
He made the statement after conducting a direct review of the renovation progress in Ponorogo on Saturday, July 19, to advance the Sekolah Rakyat program, which aims to expand access to quality education for children from poor and vulnerable families.
The central government has selected Ponorogo as one of the pilot regions for this national priority program.
In addition to emphasizing timely construction, Rico stressed the need to ensure that the school will provide a proper and comfortable environment for its future students.
On that note, he highlighted that the government has begun procuring essential items, particularly desks and chairs.
“It is crucial to ensure that the building truly offers a proper and comfortable learning and living environment for students, as this program represents the government’s concrete effort to fulfill the people’s basic rights,” he affirmed.
Meanwhile, Ponorogo District Head Sugiri Sancoko pledged full support for the program’s implementation, including monitoring the progress of physical infrastructure built by the central government.
“We stand ready to help ensure that everything goes according to plan. Beyond physical development, implementing Sekolah Rakyat is about shaping a brighter future for disadvantaged children,” he said.
The Sekolah Rakyat facility in Ponorogo, which will operate as a temporary site, is set to start student admissions on July 24. The Ministry of Public Works plans to begin constructing a permanent building next year.
Indonesia launched school orientations for Sekolah Rakyat students at 63 locations nationwide on July 14, with 37 more sites to follow later this month. This supports the goal of opening 100 Sekolah Rakyat sites for the 2025–2026 academic year.
President Prabowo Subianto initiated the Sekolah Rakyat program specifically for children from families classified as poor or extremely poor based on the National Socioeconomic Single Data (DTSEN) system.
Adopting a boarding school concept, Sekolah Rakyat is expected to support the government’s poverty alleviation efforts through free and quality formal, character, and religious education for children at the elementary, junior high, and senior high school levels.
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Translator: Destyan H, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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