President Prabowo to Support Sekolah Rakyat Graduates via College and Jobs

Pathways for Graduates: College and Career Support

Graduates of the government’s Sekolah Rakyat (People’s School) program are being directed toward two primary trajectories: higher education or the workforce. Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf announced that the government intends to facilitate these transitions through targeted partnerships, including a collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism to provide scholarships for students interested in that sector.

This initiative follows a directive from President Prabowo Subianto to ensure that graduates can develop their potential regardless of their background. According to reporting from Tempo, the government plans to provide ongoing assistance to beneficiaries even after graduation, focusing on upgrading both academic and non-academic competencies to help them secure employment domestically or abroad.

Talent Mapping and Educational Methodology

A defining feature of the Sekolah Rakyat model is its departure from standardized academic testing. Instead, the program employs a specialized diagnostic approach to identify student strengths. There are no academic tests. Instead, we use an AI-based DNA Talent test. Every child is valuable, and we look for their talents and intelligence as part of multiple intelligences, Minister Saifullah Yusuf explained.

The results of this mapping are intended to serve as a baseline for teachers to provide personalized guidance. The program also integrates foreign language training to better prepare students for modern job markets. For the students themselves, the transition to this boarding-based environment can be challenging.

Deputy Minister of Social Affairs Agus Jabo Priyono emphasized the importance of discipline in preparing students for future challenges and noted that the government expects Sekolah Rakyat schools to become a second home for children from poor families.

Program Scale and Academic Scrutiny

The Sekolah Rakyat initiative is designed for children from vulnerable families, specifically those recorded in the National Socio-Economic Single Data (DTSEN) who have dropped out of school, are at risk of dropping out, are out of school, or have not enrolled at the appropriate age. As of mid-2026, the government has set ambitious growth targets. While the program began with 63 locations in 2025, officials aim to expand the network to 500 operational schools by 2029.

Despite the government’s focus on expansion, the program has faced calls for more rigorous evaluation. The Jakarta Post reported that the initiative, which seeks to address a national poverty rate that has remained stagnant at around 8.5 percent, has seen limited independent study. One peer-reviewed analysis conducted at a single school in South Jakarta noted challenges regarding budget autonomy and coordination between four ministries and the Indonesian Military.

The government continues to prioritize the program’s growth, with plans to expand the total student enrollment to 45,000 by 2026. For students like 16-year-old Abi Alfian, the program offers a concrete opportunity to continue learning. Thank you, Mr. President. Thanks to you, I can pursue education here, Alfian said during an orientation session in Semarang, where 262 students recently began their studies.