President Prabowo Subianto’s ambitious plan to establish 100 Sekolah Rakyat (People’s Schools) annually is moving forward, backed by a substantial budget of Rp25.8 trillion (US$1.5 million) despite facing significant challenges, particularly in land acquisition, which could leave a large portion of the budget unused in its early phases.

The schools, envisioned to serve underprivileged and remote communities, are part of a national strategy to improve education equity and support local economies. Based on current estimates, the cost to build one Sekolah Rakyat is about Rp258 billion. Yet, with a revised and more efficient design, each school now requires around Rp150 billion − freeing up funds but also underscoring delays caused by land constraints.

Minister of Public Works and Housing, Dody Hanggodo, cited that one of President Prabowo’s core requirements is for each school to include a full-sized football field. However, not all regions can provide the 6–10 hectares of land needed to fulfill this vision.

“A full-sized football field alone requires over 1.8 hectares,” Dody told a press conference in Jakarta on Friday, May 9, 2025. “But many local governments can’t allocate that much land.”

To adapt, the final approved design now targets land plots of around 5.6 to 6 hectares. In urban areas where land is especially scarce − such as Jakarta and Surabaya − this has proven difficult. In Surabaya, for example, only 2.5 to 3 hectares are available, halting construction plans for now.

To address these constraints, the government has opted to include smaller national-standard football fields measuring 60 x 40 meters in some schools.

Key features and plans

Each Sekolah Rakyat is designed to be a comprehensive education facility featuring:

● Dormitories for up to 1,000 students

● Places of worship

● Classrooms and computer labs

● Sports facilities

Despite land issues, the government aims to have 100 schools operational annually through 2027. However, the number that will be ready by July 2025 remains fluid.

“If only 70 schools are operational by July, don’t be upset − it’s a moving target,” Dody said.

In the meantime, renovation of existing schools has become a temporary solution. A total of 65 schools are currently undergoing upgrades and are expected to open in the second half of this year. Meanwhile, the Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment has confirmed that 53 new Sekolah Rakyat are ready to welcome students in the 2025/2026 academic year.

Priority

Dody emphasized that school locations are chosen based on the concentration of poor and extremely poor populations. Areas categorized as underdeveloped, remote, and border regions are given top priority.

“I don’t mind if some regional leaders reject this program because they believe they don’t have poor residents,” he said. “But the goal isn’t just education − it’s also to stimulate the local economy through local construction materials and labor.”

Dody urged local governments to fully support the initiative, noting that strong commitment can overcome even the toughest challenges.

“I understand that land can be hard to find, but with enough willpower, it’s possible,” he added.

As one of President Prabowo’s flagship initiatives, Sekolah Rakyat holds the promise of not only transforming education for Indonesia’s underserved populations, but also empowering local communities through inclusive development.