Daftarsbmptn.com – On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, President Prabowo Subianto held a limited meeting at the Merdeka Palace with several ministers from the Red and White cabinet to discuss the national strategy to accelerate poverty alleviation through a focus on education and community empowerment.
In his statement after the meeting, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Pratikno, stated that President Prabowo gave firm instructions that the strategy to break the chain of poverty be implemented concretely and measurably. One of the main schemes emphasized was strengthening vocational education and building integrated schools in every sub-district.
“First, education… the most concrete, public schools with various developments.” Coordinating Minister Muhaimin Iskandar after the meeting.
Main Agenda: Public Schools & Integrated Schools
President Prabowo emphasized that education is the main path to breaking the cycle of poverty from generation to generation. One of the government’s flagship programs is the Public School, a state-funded boarding school for children from underprivileged families. “If the father is a scavenger, the children should not become scavengers,” Prabowo emphasized at one point.
By August 2025, more than 100 People’s Schools (Sekolah Rakyat) units had been operational, with a target of 200 schools in the near future. This program targets students from low-income families based on a single social welfare database.
Furthermore, the government will also strengthen vocational education and build integrated schools spanning elementary through vocational high schools in one location and equipped with complete facilities such as laboratories, vocational workshops, arts, and sports. This is expected to improve graduate competencies that meet job requirements.
Policy Direction and Priorities
President Prabowo prioritizes three strategic areas for poverty alleviation: education, health, and community economic empowerment. The Chief of the Presidential Communications Expert Staff, Adita Irawati, stated that education is the “first step” to enabling children from low-income families to advance not only economically, but also in terms of quality of life.
In a closed meeting on November 5, Prabowo emphasized that relevant ministries must ensure the program runs according to plan, with clear success indicators, and involves the entire education ecosystem and the workforce.
Challenges & Implementation
Although ambitious targets have been set, implementation is not without challenges. These include: providing qualified teachers and adequate facilities for integrated schools, adequate budget allocation, and mentoring for students from very low-income families to help them adjust to a more intensive school environment.
The People’s School Program has reportedly involved mostly boarding schools, which cover students’ needs, including tuition fees, dormitories, food, uniforms, and educational facilities. However, the reality on the ground indicates that the quality of mentoring and environmental preparedness still need improvement to truly achieve the goal of breaking the cycle of poverty.
Expectations & Implications
President Prabowo’s move has major implications for the direction of Indonesia’s human resource development. By making education a key pillar of poverty alleviation, it is hoped that people from the lowest levels of society will gain access to quality education and better economic opportunities. If education and vocational training can be tangibly connected to the world of work, increased productivity and social mobility will be more likely.
This program also reinforces the government’s commitment to creating social justice—that children’s right to learn should not be hindered by parental poverty. Therefore, collaboration across ministries, local governments, the education sector, and the private sector will be crucial.
Conclusion
President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that “education is the way out of poverty,” and placed programs such as People’s Schools, vocational strengthening, and integrated schools at the heart of the national strategy. While challenges remain, this policy direction demonstrates that the government views education not merely as a public service, but as a strategic investment in the nation’s future a young generation that is not only academically intelligent, but also prepared, productive, and capable of escaping the cycle of poverty.