Speaking at the Banjarbaru Social Welfare Education and Training Center (BBPPKS) in South Kalimantan on Tuesday, Yusuf thanked participants for their commitment to the initiative, which provides access to education for children from low-income families.
At the Banjarbaru retreat, he directly trained 116 participants, comprising 86 foster parents and 30 dormitory guardians.
Five other provinces joined online sessions. They included Padang, West Sumatra, with 121 foster parents and 18 guardians; Bandung, West Java, with 107 foster parents and 19 guardians; Yogyakarta, with 100 foster parents and 31 guardians; Makassar, South Sulawesi, with 104 guardians and 21 foster parents; and Jayapura, Papua, with 18 foster parents.
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Yusuf also praised the People’s School community in Banjarbaru, including principals, teachers, security guards, cleaners and kitchen staff, for their dedication to the program.
He stressed that foster parents and guardians must remain patient, responsible and devoted in caring for the students, many of whom face economic hardship. Their role, he said, is crucial to ensuring the program’s success and the students’ wellbeing.
The People’s School Program was designed to reduce educational inequality by placing children from underprivileged backgrounds in dormitories under the care of foster parents and guardians. The initiative is expected to strengthen children’s access to education while instilling values of discipline, inclusivity and social responsibility.
By mobilizing trained caretakers, the government aims to expand the program’s reach nationwide. The second phase builds on the first wave of implementation, which began in 2024 and covered fewer provinces.
The ministry said further training sessions will continue to ensure the quality of support provided to the students.
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Translator: Yoanita Hastryka Djohan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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