January 14, 2026 | 07:02 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Tens of thousands of students across Indonesia have reportedly enrolled in the new People’s Schools program, a nationwide initiative launched by President Prabowo Subianto in July 2025, designed to provide accessible education to children from low-income families.
State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said that after approximately six months of operation, more than 15,000 students from elementary to high school levels have joined the program.
“Fifteen thousand students have participated in learning at the People’s Schools,” Prasetyo said in a statement on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
According to official data, 15,954 students are enrolled in 166 People’s Schools spread across 34 provinces and 131 regencies and cities.
Prasetyo added that the government plans to expand the program this year, with 104 additional schools to be built in strategic locations.
“We will construct 104 new People’s Schools this year,” he said.
President Prabowo has set a target of 500 People’s Schools by the end of his term in 2029. Speaking at the Integrated People’s School (SRT) 9 in Banjarbaru City, South Kalimantan, Prabowo said, “Our goal is 500 People’s Schools by 2029. God willing, it will be achieved.”
Each school is designed to accommodate roughly 1,000 students, meaning the long-term goal is to serve 500,000 students nationwide.
“Currently, total enrollment has reached 15,000, and it could rise to 30,000 by the end of this year. Ultimately, each campus is expected to educate 1,000 students,” Prabowo added.
The first phase of the program, consisting of 166 schools with boarding school facilities, began operations gradually between July and October 2025. Together, these schools currently serve 15,954 students, supported by 2,218 teachers and 4,889 educational staff.
The second phase will see 104 additional schools built, designed to accommodate 112,320 students through 3,744 learning groups, further expanding access to education for underprivileged communities.
Ervana Trikarinaputri contributed to the writing of this article.
Read: Prabowo Targets Building 500 People's Schools in Indonesia by 2029
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