TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – A member of the Indonesian House of Representatives’ Commission VIII has urged the Ministry of Social Affairs to review the design of the government’s People's School program after it recorded low interest among elementary school applicants.
Golkar Party politician Derta Rohidin said the government should investigate the reasons behind the low enrollment rate instead of focusing solely on meeting student targets.
"The lack of interest in People’s School at the elementary level should not be seen solely as a problem of inadequate socialization. The government needs to look into this issue more deeply," Derta said in a written statement quoted from the Golkar Faction’s website on Friday, July 17, 2026.
Boarding School Model Raises Concerns Among Parents
Derta said the government needs to consider psychological, social, and cultural factors that influence parents’ decisions, particularly because elementary school children still have strong emotional bonds with their families.
He noted that the boarding school model adopted by People’s School could pose challenges for younger children, as parental support remains an important part of their development.
"Even the best boarding school system and facilities cannot fully replace parental love," Derta said.
According to him, families remain the primary environment for shaping children’s character, providing emotional security, building confidence, and supporting moral and spiritual development.
"Many parents feel unprepared to separate from their children at a very young age. Such concerns are natural and should be respected," he added.
Lawmakers Call for People’s School Program Review
Derta acknowledged that boarding schools could provide benefits for children facing limited access to education. However, he said the model should not be applied uniformly to all communities without considering students’ individual needs.
He called on the Ministry of Social Affairs to evaluate several aspects of the program, including children’s psychological readiness, family preparedness, parenting effectiveness, and community acceptance.
"In areas where possible, the concept of regular or semi-boarding schools could be an alternative that is more suited to community needs," Derta said.
People’s School Should Prioritize Vulnerable Children
Derta also suggested that the People’s School program should prioritize children who need greater educational support, including orphans, abandoned children, those from extremely poor families, and disaster victims.
He emphasized that the program’s success should not only be measured by the number of schools established or student enrollment figures.
"The success indicators are not only about how many schools are built, but also about how happy children are when learning and how peaceful parents feel when entrusting their children," he said.
Elementary Enrollment Target Falls Short
Earlier, Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf revealed that the enrollment target for the elementary-level People’s School program had not been achieved.
During a visit to the orientation program opening at Sragen People’s School on July 14, 2026, Yusuf said the ministry had only enrolled 5,000 students out of a national target of 9,000 students.
The People’s School program was launched to expand educational access for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a boarding school model serving as one of its main approaches.
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