Indonesia to Renovate 60,000 Schools in 2026 amid Focus on Sekolah Rakyat

Jakarta: State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi. Photo: Antara responded to public concerns that national education policy is overly focused on the Sekolah Rakyat program, saying the government will renovate at least 60,000 existing schools in 2026.

Minister Hadi said the large-scale school renovation plan complements the tuition-free Sekolah Rakyat initiative and reflects the government’s broader commitment to improving the overall quality of national education.

“We are fully aware of the importance of revitalizing existing schools. Therefore, we have set a target of renovating a minimum of 60,000 schools this year,” Hadi told reporters in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, as quoted by Antara on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.

Hadi, who also serves as President Prabowo Subianto’s spokesperson, said education reforms go beyond infrastructure upgrades and include improving teachers’ welfare and modernizing learning facilities.

“We will continue working to enhance teachers’ welfare while upgrading school facilities, including through the nationwide distribution of interactive flat panels,” he said.

He added that in 2025, the government distributed interactive flat panels to 288,000 schools across the country.

Addressing the Sekolah Rakyat program, Hadi said the initiative is designed as a strategic instrument to break the cycle of poverty through inclusive and quality education.

“We must dare to think out of the box to break the cycle of poverty, rather than remaining passive and waiting,” he said.

On Monday, President Prabowo simultaneously inaugurated 166 Sekolah Rakyat across 34 provinces. The government plans to establish an additional 104 locations in 2026, Hadi said.

“Our goal is to develop ideal Sekolah Rakyat so that more children can gain access to education,” he added.

Earlier, President Prabowo symbolically launched the operation of the 166 Sekolah Rakyat, which provide full-boarding education for children from underprivileged families, from elementary to senior high school levels.

The president has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to establishing 500 Sekolah Rakyat by 2029. The program has so far benefited more than 15,000 children, a figure expected to double by the end of this year.