Breaking the Poverty Cycle from the Classroom, Inside Prabowo’s 'Sekolah Rakyat' Integrated Model
BANJARBARU – The Indonesian government has officially introduced a new paradigm in the nation’s fight against inequality. Through the "Sekolah Rakyat" (People’s School) program, President Prabowo Subianto has launched an integrated poverty alleviation model that positions education as the primary anchor for social welfare.
Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf, widely known as Gus Ipul, emphasized that Sekolah Rakyat is far more than a conventional educational institution. The program is designed as a strategic miniature for systemic solutions to poverty.
"While the children attend school, the parents are empowered. As the students graduate, the parents 'level up' economically. This is a holistic approach; Sekolah Rakyat is a fundamental pillar of our poverty eradication strategy," Gus Ipul stated during a site inspection in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, Sunday (Jan 11).
A Multi-Sectoral Integration
The uniqueness of this poverty alleviation model lies in its ability to synchronize various national priority programs within a single ecosystem. Families enrolled in the program do not only gain access to quality education but also receive comprehensive support across ministries, including:
The Three Million Houses Program: Providing decent housing for students' families.
Free Nutritious Meals (MBG): Ensuring optimal nutrition to boost students' cognitive performance.
Merah Putih Village Cooperative: A platform for the economic empowerment of parents.
Free Health Checks & National Health Insurance (JKN): Comprehensive healthcare coverage for the entire household.
Gus Ipul explained that the President’s vision is to reach children from impoverished and extreme-poverty backgrounds who have historically been sidelined from quality education. By doing so, Sekolah Rakyat serves as a long-term social investment to prepare the "Golden Generation 2045."
The official launch, scheduled for Monday, January 12, 2026, marks a historic milestone where the government shifts from fragmented, sectoral interventions to a unified, integrated ecosystem under the banner of Sekolah Rakyat.