President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated 166 People's Schools nationwide in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, on January 12, 2026. The program targets children from poor families to break the cycle of poverty through holistic and free education. East Java leads with 26 operational schools.
President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated 166 People's Schools (SR) and conducted groundbreaking for 104 permanent buildings in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, on Monday (January 12, 2026). The event also included a visit to Integrated People's School 9 at the same location. The SR program is designed as an inclusive and affordable learning space for children from poor and vulnerable families, focusing on holistic education that combines academic competencies, character building, and practical skills.
"Through this inauguration, the government affirms that human development through education is the top priority," stated President Prabowo in his speech. He emphasized that SR represents the state's presence for vulnerable groups, providing not only free education but also nutritional support, health services, and character development. The President expressed his joy after witnessing SR students' abilities, including speeches in Arabic and marching drills. "Thank you to all Governors, Regents, and Mayors who have worked hard to realize this bold breakthrough," he added.
Minister of State Apparatus Utilization and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB) Rini Widyantini described the program as aligning with President Prabowo's Asta Cita to strengthen human resources and break the poverty cycle. "This is the President's program to bring the state closer to the people. It reduces the distance between government institutions and the public. The people are truly better off," she said. The implementation of SR involves cross-ministry collaboration, with the Ministry of Social Affairs as the main coordinator.
The following day, Tuesday (January 13, 2026), East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa announced that her province operates 26 SR, the highest number nationally out of 166. "Alhamdulillah, out of 166 SR across Indonesia, East Java holds the first position. This proves East Java's serious commitment to supporting President Prabowo's priority program," she said in Surabaya. Currently, these 26 schools accommodate 2,450 students, with eight new locations proposed for 2026. Data integration via the National Socio-Economic Single Data (DTSEN) ensures accurate targeting of extremely poor families.
