inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. President Prabowo Subianto stated that the government is establishing Community Schools (Sekolah Rakyat) as boarding schools for children from the most disadvantaged families to break the cycle of poverty and open up opportunities for them to achieve a better future.
"We are also building Community Schools, boarding schools for children from the most disadvantaged families, with classrooms, housing, nutritious food, computers, teachers, and a safe environment. The strategy is to break the cycle of poverty," Prabowo said in his state address at the 2026 Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the Joint Session of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) and the House of Representatives (DPR) at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday (8/14/2026).
Prabowo emphasized that a family's economic situation should not determine a child's future, and that the state must intervene in accordance with the mandate of Article 34 of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, which states that the poor and neglected children are cared for by the state.
Currently, 93 permanent Community Schools have been opened, while 182 pilot Community Schools have been opened. Prabowo aims for each district to have one Community School.
"Eventually, every district will have one Community School," he said.
Prabowo then introduced Muhammad Rizky Pratama, a 12-year-old Community School student who once cycled dozens of kilometers carrying around 30 kilograms of fish to sell.
Rizky had dropped out of school and, when he eventually attended the Community School, was unable to read fluently or do arithmetic.
"Today, Rizky returns to school and reclaims his right to learn and pursue his dreams. There is no more valuable investment than restoring a child's future," Prabowo said.
Besides Rizky, Prabowo cited the example of Citra Nur Ramadhani from Pangkajene Regency, South Sulawesi, who nearly dropped out of school in fourth grade because she had to help her disabled mother sell peanuts after her father died.
Citra then had the opportunity to continue her education at the Community School and became a district-level karate champion.
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