Sekolah Rakyat Siap Dibangun, Lahan Sudah Tersedia

JAYAPURA -  Pemerintah Provinsi Papua memastikan kesiapan untuk mendukung program Sekolah Rakyat dari Kementerian Sosial RI. Lahan seluas 10 hektare telah disiapkan di Kampung Maribu, Distrik Sentani Timur, Kabupaten Jayapura, sebagai lokasi pembangunan sekolah berasrama tersebut.

Asisten I Setda Papua Yohanes Walilo mengatakan seluruh pembiayaan pembangunan dan operasional Sekolah Rakyat akan ditanggung oleh pemerintah pusat. Karena itu, peran pemerintah daerah dibutuhkan terutama dalam penyediaan lahan.

“Untuk Provinsi Papua, kami sudah menyurat ke Kementerian Sosial sejak April dan sudah ada jawaban. Lahan seluas kurang lebih 12,5 hektare di Kampung Maribu sudah kami siapkan, dan sesuai arahan pusat, 10 hektare telah dialokasikan,” jelas Yohanes.

Tanah tersebut merupakan milik pemerintah yang sebelumnya direncanakan menjadi lokasi pembangunan kampus IPDN. Namun karena rencana itu tidak terealisasi, lahan kini dialihkan untuk program Sekolah Rakyat.

“Lokasi ini tidak ada masalah karena sudah bersertifikat dan masih dikuasai pemerintah,” tambahnya.

Sekolah Rakyat ditujukan khusus bagi anak-anak dari keluarga tidak mampu. Program ini akan menyediakan pendidikan gratis berasrama dari tingkat SD hingga SMA.

Setelah lulus, diharapkan anak-anak dapat melanjutkan pendidikan ke perguruan tinggi dan kembali untuk membantu keluarga mereka.

“Anak-anak yang tidak bisa sekolah karena tidak punya biaya akan dimasukkan ke sekolah ini. Ketika mereka selesai sekolah, bahkan bisa kuliah dan jadi sarjana. Itu harapan kami,” ungkap Yohanes. ***

JAYAPURA – The Papua Provincial Government has confirmed its readiness to support the Sekolah Rakyat program initiated by Indonesia’s Ministry of Social Affairs. A 10-hectare plot of land has been prepared in Maribu Village, East Sentani District, Jayapura Regency, as the site for building the boarding school.

Yohanes Walilo, Assistant I to the Papua Regional Secretary, stated that all funding for the construction and operation of the Sekolah Rakyat will be covered by the central government. Therefore, the regional government's role is crucial, especially in providing the land.

“For Papua Province, we sent a formal letter to the Ministry of Social Affairs back in April and received a response. A plot of around 12.5 hectares in Maribu Village has been prepared, and based on central government directives, 10 hectares have been allocated,” Yohanes explained.

The land is owned by the government and was previously intended as the site for an IPDN (Institute of Public Administration) campus. However, since that plan did not materialize, the land has now been repurposed for the Sekolah Rakyat program.

“There are no issues with the location as it is already certified and still under government control,” he added.

The Sekolah Rakyat is specifically designed for children from underprivileged families. This program will offer free, boarding-based education from elementary through high school levels.

Upon graduation, it is hoped that students will continue to university and later return to support their families.

“Children who cannot attend school due to financial constraints will be enrolled here. We hope, when they finish their education, they might even pursue university degrees,” said Yohanes. ***