"Our plan for next year is to renovate at least 60 thousand schools," he remarked at an event marking the 2025 National Teachers Day, as followed online from the State Secretariat’s YouTube channel in Jakarta on Friday.
However, the president underscored that the target may be unsatisfactory to him. He therefore instructed Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa to assess the budget feasibility for further expanding the school rehabilitation program.
Besides the 2026 target, he also pointed out that the government has been working to upgrade around 16 thousand schools nationwide this year, although he regards the number as substandard.
"As your president, I would like to apologize for being able only to cover 16 thousand schools. But rest assured, I am determined to shoot up the number next year," he told the audience.
The head of state explained that the school renovation initiative reflects his commitment to improving the quality of educational services across the country, noting that his administration has saved funds through budget efficiency measures and redirected them to the education sector.
In detail, the government has set a budget ceiling of Rp20 trillion (nearly US$1.2 billion) for the renovation program this year, with Rp9.6 trillion (around US$575 million) already realized.
School renovation is not the only national initiative the Prabowo administration has crafted for upgrading the education sector. Throughout 2025, the government has been advancing the tuition-free education program, Sekolah Rakyat (People’s School), dedicated to children from underprivileged families.
The Ministry of Social Affairs reported that as of November, a total of 166 schools have been established in various regions under the program, offering full-boarding formal, character, and religious education to around 16 thousand students from elementary to high school levels.
This program forms part of the government’s strategy to improve human resource quality and alleviate poverty in pursuit of a golden era for Indonesia by 2045.
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Translator: Maria C, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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