JAYAPURA – Acting Head of the Papua Provincial Office for Social Affairs, Population, and Civil Registry, Djong H. Makanuay, stated that the Sekolah Rakyat program is designed for children from low-income families, including those of fishermen, farmers, and manual laborers.

“The establishment of Sekolah Rakyat aims to meet community needs and forms part of efforts to alleviate extreme poverty,” Djong said.

He emphasized that the existence of Sekolah Rakyat and other similar institutions will not interfere with the operations of existing schools.

In Papua, Sekolah Rakyat serves as a distinctive educational initiative, providing opportunities for children who aspire to pursue higher education but lack the financial means to do so.

“At Sekolah Rakyat, all facilities and necessities are provided by the government. The children only need to study and stay in the dormitories,” he explained.

Djong expressed hope that the presence of Sekolah Rakyat will help improve access to education for Papuan children, ensuring that no child drops out of school due to economic hardship.

There will be 10 Sekolah Rakyat to be built by the central government through the Ministry of Social Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works and Housing. ***