Indonesia expands free education program to combat school dropout crisis
The government is accelerating its Sekolah Rakyat initiative to provide comprehensive educational support to 43,000 street children and school dropouts, with plans to establish 100 new facilities nationwide by late August 2026.
Indonesia expands free education to curb school dropouts: Official
Indonesia is intensifying efforts to address educational exclusion by rapidly expanding its Sekolah Rakyat program, which provides free comprehensive education to vulnerable children across the archipelago.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya announced Saturday that 43,000 street children and school dropouts have returned to formal education through the government initiative, with ambitious plans to increase enrollment particularly in Jakarta and Banten provinces.
The expansion comes as Indonesia grapples with significant educational access challenges. While the 2024/2025 academic year saw school dropouts decline to 66,866 students nationally—a 20.1 percent decrease from 83,724 in 2020/2021—government data indicates 2,922,607 children aged 7-18 remain out of school, with the largest concentration among 16-18 year olds.
Rapid infrastructure deployment
Speaking during an inspection of Sekolah Rakyat facilities in Legok, Tangerang District, Teddy explained that the Ministry of Social Affairs has expedited the program by renovating underutilized buildings rather than constructing new facilities from scratch.
Construction might take a year, but a child's education cannot be delayed; it must happen immediately. That is why we have these facilities.
The program established 165 schools last year and is preparing 100 additional buildings across various cities and regencies this year, featuring larger and more adequate facilities. In Banten specifically, two new buildings and six pilot schools are operational.
Comprehensive support model
Sekolah Rakyat provides more than classroom instruction. Enrolled children receive accommodation, meals, health coverage, and proper school supplies—addressing the economic barriers that research identifies as the primary driver of educational exclusion.
Studies show family and economic factors constitute the most significant contributors to Indonesia's school dropout rate, with children from poor families four times more likely to leave school than their wealthier counterparts. Despite the national poverty rate falling to a historic low of 8.57 percent in September 2024, an additional 68 million Indonesians remain vulnerable to poverty.
The program targets children from diverse vulnerable backgrounds, including those without stable employment and orphans, reflecting the government's recognition that economic instability threatens educational continuity.
Strategic geographic focus
The concentration of new facilities in Jakarta and surrounding Banten reflects strategic targeting of high-need areas. Regional data shows West Java recording the nation's highest dropout rate at 13.00 percent, followed by Jakarta at 12.04 percent, underscoring significant geographic disparities in educational access.
Teddy indicated that dozens to as many as 100 new schools nationwide are scheduled to begin full operations by late August, following Indonesia's August 17 Independence Day celebrations.
Broader policy context
The Sekolah Rakyat expansion aligns with President Prabowo Subianto's recent pledge to increase education investment. Earlier in August, the president emphasized that the nation's future innovation and breakthroughs depend on educational quality.
The initiative also fits within Indonesia's expanded social protection framework, with the 2026 budget for social programs increased 8.6 percent to Rp508.2 trillion, demonstrating sustained fiscal commitment to preventive social interventions.
Children included in this program gain not only access to education but also support facilities.
Teddy expressed hope that the Social Affairs Ministry's efforts will continue reducing dropout numbers and providing better futures for Indonesian children.