Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf has issued a stern warning against bribery, collusion, and nepotism in the admission process for the government’s People’s School program. Speaking on July 14, 2026, in Sragen, Central Java, the minister emphasized that enrollment is strictly reserved for students from poor and extreme-poor families, with the government utilizing Family Hope Program (PKH) facilitators to verify candidate eligibility.
Strict Oversight to Prevent Corruption
Minister Saifullah, also known as Gus Ipul, addressed the risks of corruption during the opening of the School Environment Introduction Period for Integrated Elementary School I. He stated that the government has implemented a specific mechanism to ensure transparency, involving collaboration between the Ministry of Social Affairs, local government officials, and the Elementary and Secondary Education (Dikdasmen) department.
“No one should be allowed to play around; no one should bribe, pay, or collude to get into People’s Schools,” Saifullah said. He urged the public to exercise caution and avoid any parties offering guaranteed entry in exchange for payments, reiterating that the program is designed solely as an intervention for the most disadvantaged communities.
Enrollment Challenges and Financial Scope
Despite the program’s goal of providing targeted educational access, the Ministry of Social Affairs faces a notable gap in elementary-level enrollment. Out of a national target of approximately 9,000 students for the current year, only just over 5,000 elementary spots have been filled. While junior high and high school quotas have been met, Saifullah noted that some parents remain hesitant to enroll their children due to the intensive mentoring model utilized by the People’s Schools.
The government has set aside a budget of approximately Rp4 trillion to support the program this year. Operational costs are estimated to range between Rp3 million and Rp4 million per student each month, covering both education delivery and specialized student mentoring services.
Infrastructure Transition and Future Development
The government is currently moving to replace temporary school facilities with permanent buildings. According to Saifullah, 93 of the 166 planned People’s Schools have already entered the construction phase, with 11 additional sites undergoing re-tendering. The ministry aims to add roughly 100 more permanent buildings by the end of this year.
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