Speaking before President Prabowo Subianto, Yusuf requested the President to officially inaugurate the Sekolah Rakyat Program, which has been established at 166 locations across Indonesia.
“I consider this a historic moment. We want this idea to be remembered as a historical event,” Yusuf said in a trembling voice.
Sekolah Rakyat is designed to ensure that children who have long been marginalized in development can stand on equal footing with others in national life.
The program has become a government priority targeting families in the lowest economic groups, namely deciles one to four in the National Integrated Socio-Economic Data (DTSEN).
Sekolah Rakyat is structured as an integrated poverty alleviation model that incorporates various government services, including Free Health Check-ups, Free Nutritious Meals, PBI-JK health insurance, the Red and White Village Cooperatives, and the Three Million Houses Program for families of beneficiary students.
The Ministry of Social Affairs said that, as of 2025, 166 pilot Sekolah Rakyat schools have been built with a total capacity of nearly 16 thousand students.
The program is supported by around 2,400 teachers and more than four thousand education personnel across elementary, junior high, and senior high school levels or their equivalents.
Yusuf emphasized that Sekolah Rakyat is an initiative of President Prabowo Subianto aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty through free and quality education.
After concluding his speech, Yusuf shed tears as he stepped down from the podium and bowed to the President. President Prabowo responded by placing an arm around Yusuf’s shoulder before they sat together.
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Translator: Prasetyo, Kenzu
Editor: Primayanti
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