PORTALJABAR, GARUT REGENCY - The Regent of Garut, Abdusy Syakur Amin, attended the Launching and School Environment Introduction Period (MPLS) for new students of public schools for the 2025/2026 fiscal year at the pioneering public school located at the UPTD Job Training Center (BLK) of the Manpower and Transmigration Service (Disnakertrans) of Garut Regency, Jalan Raya Samarang, Samarang District, Tuesday (30/9/2025).
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In his remarks, the Regent of Garut emphasized that the initiative school initiated by President Prabowo Subianto is a strategic step to break the chain of intergenerational poverty transmission by opening access to quality education.
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"This is due to limited access, particularly to education, health, and the economy. Therefore, President Prabowo believes that some of the transmission must be stopped and prevented. The way to do this is by opening these access points, and the easiest way is by opening access to education," he explained.
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The Regent explained that the People's School Program is an implementation of Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 8 of 2025 concerning Optimization of the Implementation of Poverty Alleviation and Elimination of Extreme Poverty.
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The Head of the Bandung Center for Social Welfare Education and Training (BBPPKS), Iyan Kusmadiana, explained the accelerated implementation of this program. He said the idea for the People's Schools came directly from President Prabowo, and since its inception around February, 165 schools have been established by September, with 65 of them simultaneously implementing the MPLS.
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"Extraordinary, let's applaud our government first. We've been collaborating on this since July 14th, and now 65 of them are simultaneously opening this environmental introduction period across Indonesia," said Iyan.
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He added that the implementation of the People's Schools involves collaboration between ministries, including the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance. In the pilot phase, the program also collaborated with the Ministry of Manpower, resulting in the use of Vocational Training Centers (BLK) throughout Indonesia as temporary locations.
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This pilot school was established while waiting for the construction of permanent schools by the Ministry of PUPR in each district/city.
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‎The Head of the Garut Regency Social Service, Aji Sukarmaji, reported on the stages of student recruitment for the Integrated People's School in Garut which has been carried out since August.
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"These prospective students are members of the community who fall into Decile 1 and Decile 2 according to the national socio-economic data," explained Aji.
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After a plenary session attended by the Regional Secretary, Head of BPS, Head of Education Office, Head of Health Office, and Head of Manpower and Transmigration Office, it was decided that the number of students would be as follows: 50 students at junior high school level (17 girls, 33 boys) divided into two study groups, and 25 students at elementary school level (8 girls, 17 boys) in one study group.
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At the opening of the MPLS, students from 28 sub-districts were accompanied by the sub-district heads and their families. Parents were provided with overnight accommodation before returning to their respective sub-districts, while the students began living in the dormitories.
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The Garut Social Services Agency also expressed its appreciation for the assistance of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) and the Ministry of Social Affairs in constructing facilities and infrastructure at the Manpower and Transmigration Vocational Training Center (BLK) used as the location for the Pioneer People's School, including a teachers' lounge, classrooms, dormitories, and a dining room. (Garut Communications and Information Service/rka)