Cirebon City Social Affairs Office Head Santi Rahayu conveyed the statement after a dialogue with the vice president during his working visit to the public school on Friday.
“The vice president said the tender process has been completed, so it’s only a matter of time before the distribution begins,” Santi said, as quoted by the Vice President’s Secretariat in Jakarta.
She noted that the establishment of Sekolah Rakyat has greatly benefited underprivileged families in Cirebon.
“Since its launch on July 6, the program has formed two learning groups for elementary and two for junior high school students,” she said.
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The school’s operation involves three agencies: the Social Affairs Office handles student recruitment, the Education Office provides teaching staff, and the Public Works Office prepares facilities and infrastructure.
According to Santi, all students enrolled come from low-income families.
“These children are from the Desil 1 and 2 groups, and the main goal of Sekolah Rakyat is to break the cycle of poverty,” she added.
Sekolah Rakyat SMPN 18 Cirebon currently accommodates 74 students, supported by 13 teachers, nine foster guardians, and four dormitory supervisors. Its facilities include classrooms, male and female dormitories, computer and science labs, dining halls, kitchens, a mosque, and a library.
The Vice President’s Secretariat said Gibran was welcomed by Deputy Principal for Student Affairs Rhizal Umami Haffi, along with education and social affairs officials. Gibran toured classrooms, dormitories, and other facilities while observing lessons in progress.
During the visit, he urged that remaining facility needs be fulfilled promptly and confirmed that the central government had prepared a distribution mechanism for educational aid now in its final tender stage.
He emphasized that the government continues to monitor Sekolah Rakyat implementation nationwide to ensure students have adequate learning resources.
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Translator: Primayanti
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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