Sekolah Rakyat: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty in Indonesia

TheIndonesia.co - One sweltering afternoon in Jakarta, a 15-year-old boy named Amin sought shelter from the sun in Suropati Park. While most people were avoiding the heat, Amin, a daily scavenger of plastic bottles, spent his time reading an illustrated encyclopedia in a mini library at the park.

According to Antara News Agency, Amin had to drop out of school the previous year due to his family’s financial struggles, despite receiving government assistance. His parents could not afford his transportation costs, school supplies, or even pocket money. His father battles an online gambling addiction, and his mother works as a domestic worker, often borrowing from loan sharks to make ends meet.

To support his mother, Amin has been collecting plastic bottles for the past six months. He roams Jakarta's streets, carrying a nearly torn sack filled with bottles. Despite missing school, he tries to keep his education alive by reading in the park, fearing that without an education, his dream of becoming a white-collar worker will fade.

Amin’s story highlights the struggles faced by millions of children from impoverished families across Indonesia. According to the Education Financing Service Center (Puslapdik), over 1.3 million children from the poorest 25% of the population remain out of school. Financial hardships, including the inability to pay for education-related expenses, force many children to work rather than continue their studies.

This educational gap perpetuates the cycle of poverty, leading to social issues such as inequality, crime, and hindered economic growth. Recognizing this, President Prabowo Subianto announced a bold initiative: the establishment of Sekolah Rakyat (People’s Schools), free schools designed to break the cycle of poverty by providing quality education to children from poor and extremely poor families.

In January 2025, President Subianto outlined plans for *Sekolah Rakyat*, which would apply a boarding school concept. The aim is to empower children to become independent and contribute to the country’s vision of *Golden Indonesia 2045*. To achieve this, the Ministry of Social Affairs has been tasked with establishing 100 of these schools across the country by the end of the year, in collaboration with other government agencies.

The Sekolah Rakyat program will not only provide free education but also offer accommodation for students. These schools will focus on providing an education that meets both national and international standards. The curriculum will blend formal education with character-building activities and will be tailored to meet the needs of all students, including those with special needs.

Sekolah Rakyat aims to create agents of change who will improve their lives and contribute to national development. The initiative seeks to ensure that children like Amin are not left behind, giving them the tools to escape poverty and secure a brighter future.