Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Social Affairs stated that as of September 2025, 160 tuition-free schools under the government's Sekolah Rakyat program have become operational, with 5 additional schools currently in the process of completing the necessary equipment."From the target of 165, 160 have become operational. There are only 5 schools left because they are still awaiting equipment like furniture," Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf told the press in Jakarta on Friday.
The Ministry of Social Affairs noted that of the 160 schools, 63 were launched in July, and then 37 additional schools started to become operational in August. Furthermore, 60 more Sekolah Rakyat schools began their operations in September.
Meanwhile, according to the ministry, the additional 5 schools are expected to start operating in the second week of October.
"The rest will be completed in October. In November, all the schools will be ready to be inaugurated by President Prabowo," Yusuf added.
Baca juga: VP Gibran reviews free meal program at schools
The Sekolah Rakyat program, which targets children from poor and extremely poor families, aims to break the cycle of poverty in Indonesia, in line with Presidential Instruction Number 8 of 2025 on the Optimization of Poverty Alleviation and Extreme Poverty Eradication.
It is part of the government's integrated poverty alleviation initiative, which also includes several other priority programs, including Free Health Screening (CKG), Free Nutritious Meals (MBG), Red and White Village Cooperatives, and the three-million-house development program.
Baca juga: Ministry eyes Scandinavian-style student health reporting system
For the 2025–2026 academic year, the Ministry of Social Affairs is targeting to have 165 Sekolah Rakyat schools at the elementary school, junior high school, and senior high school levels.
Those schools are projected to be able to accommodate 15,895 students with learning supported by 2,407 teachers.
