He made his statement in response to reporters' questions regarding the fact that more than 100 children have withdrawn or failed to respond to the call to enroll as students in the first phase of the Sekolah Rakyat program in several regions.
"It is alright. Everything is a process. The Statistics Indonesia (BPS) has already reported that there are around 4.16 million children who are out of school or have not yet attended school,” Priyono noted, after reviewing student activities at junior high-level Sekolah Rakyat school, here on Monday.
Meanwhile, data from the ministry indicates that, nationwide, student withdrawals from Sekolah Rakyat schools are spread on six islands.
The highest number of withdrawals, between 25-35 students, occurred in Sulawesi (16 schools), Java (48 schools), and Sumatra (21 schools).
Priyono viewed this trend as part of an adjustment process, noting that some students struggle to adapt to the boarding school lifestyle at Sekolah Rakyat, which differs from their routines at home.
The Social Ministry confirmed that students who withdraw will be replaced quickly, as in addition to the high number of children in need, there is also strong interest from the public and support from many parents for this program.
Nonetheless, he emphasized that his staff will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the Sekolah Rakyat implementation.
“This Sekolah Rakyat is a bridge for students to realize their dreams. It is a directive from the President so that all Indonesian children can go to school. So that they can be intelligent, have strong character, and skills,” he said.
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Translator: Prasetyo, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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