Indonesia targets 150,000 students for people's schools by 2027 - ANTARA News Jawa Timur

Banten (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Social Affairs Ministry is targeting more than 150,000 students to enroll in its people's schools program by 2027, expanding access for children from disadvantaged families and those who have dropped out.

Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf said the target would be pursued through pilot people's schools designed to reach children from disadvantaged families and those who are out of school.

"The government's long-term target is for every district and city to have at least one permanent people's school building with a capacity of more than 2,000 students," he said in Tangerang, Banten, on Saturday.

More than 43,000 students have currently enrolled in the people's schools program, Yusuf said. Following President Prabowo Subianto's directive, the number is expected to rise to more than 150,000 next year once permanent buildings are completed in each region.

"Bringing street children into school is not an easy task. Field workers sometimes have to spend up to 24 hours simply tracking down where these children are," he said.

Yusuf said the government would continue expanding pilot schools for children who have dropped out or are not attending school.

As part of the expansion, the ministry has converted a building owned by the Ministry of Transportation into a people's school facility. The building is normally used for classes at the Indonesian Aviation Polytechnic.

"This additional pilot program specifically reaches children who often spend school hours busking or earning money in markets and public places," he said.

Yusuf said 400 street children have now been reached, while 300 have undergone assessments and met the requirements to immediately begin classes at people's schools.

"Meanwhile, more than 100 other children need an equivalency or matriculation period first at facilities operated by the Social Affairs Ministry. Some of them cannot yet read, have health problems, or face other difficulties," he said.

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