VOINews, Jakarta: Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu’ti, has expressed optimism that the "Sekolah Rakyat" (People's School) program will ensure quality education for everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
“Do not think that those from disadvantaged economic backgrounds cannot receive excellent education. The President’s vision is to provide opportunities for those less fortunate to study at quality schools,” Mu’ti stated after attending the Tanwir 1 Aisyiyah event in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He assured that the Sekolah Rakyat program, to be managed by the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos), will not overlap with the Sekolah Unggul Garuda program under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek).
“The Minister of Social Affairs has already met with us, and we will coordinate to ensure smooth implementation. Further discussions between ministries may be necessary,” Mu’ti explained.
Mu’ti emphasized that the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education is working to develop appropriate frameworks for both programs. “We will find suitable mechanisms to avoid overlaps. For instance, Sekolah Unggul Garuda is designed as a directive from the President for the Ministry of Higher Education, and we will follow through with that,” he added.
Previously, the Minister of Social Affairs, Saifullah Yusuf (also known as Gus Ipul), clarified that Sekolah Rakyat is specifically targeted at families categorized as extreme poverty beneficiaries.
Gus Ipul indicated that the implementation of Sekolah Rakyat might not rely solely on government resources but could involve partnerships with private entities. “In the future, this could either be fully government-funded or a collaboration with the private sector,” he said.
Regarding infrastructure and budgeting, Gus Ipul mentioned that discussions are ongoing. He also revealed that Sekolah Rakyat will likely adopt a boarding school model, ensuring not only free and quality education but also providing nutritional support for its students.
This innovative approach aims to bridge educational gaps and create equitable opportunities for all, aligning with the government's broader vision of inclusive development./ANTARA/VOI