The minister announced the figures during a meeting with the Presidential Chief of Staff Dudung Abdurachman in Jakarta on Wednesday.
"Last year, we allocated slots for over 15,000 students in the Sekolah Rakyat program. This year, more than 32,000 will be admitted," he said.
The minister expressed his appreciation for the Presidential Staff Office's (KSP) full support of the Sekolah Rakyat program.
As the initiative approaches its first anniversary this July, he said the milestone provides an opportunity to evaluate progress and identify improvements in governance, staffing, and operational challenges.
"I ask for continued support from Mr. Dudung as the KSP chief so that the Sekolah Rakyat program can become even better, more refined, and ultimately help produce a smart, skilled generation with strong character, in line with the president’s expectations," he remarked.
Meanwhile, Dudung reaffirmed his commitment to supporting and collaborating in implementing the Sekolah Rakyat program, including the construction of permanent buildings.
He stressed that the program is a key government initiative to strengthen Indonesia's human capital, helping the country achieve its Golden Indonesia 2045 vision.
His office is also committed to addressing hindrances to ensure a successful learning process in Sekolah Rakyat.
Sekolah Rakyat is one of the priority programs of President Prabowo Subianto, aimed at providing free education access to children from underprivileged families as part of efforts to alleviate poverty. The Indonesian government aims to establish at least 500 Sekolah Rakyat schools nationwide by 2029.
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Translator: Mecca Yumna, Raka Adji
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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