Nagan Raya People’s School Brings New Hope to Students

Nagan Raya People’s School, which was officially inaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday (11/11) in Nagan Raya regency, Aceh province, has brought hope to its students.

The school, part of the People’s School program for students from underprivileged families, provides education for elementary school, junior high school, and senior high school students and is equipped with eight dormitories, canteens, computer and language laboratories, and biology, physics, and chemistry laboratories.

Ulan Ulya Al Humairah, a 10th-grade student at Nagan Raya People’s School, expressed joy at being able to continue her education.

“I dropped out during my third year of junior high school. I lived with my grandmother. One day, the head of the Family Hope Program visited our house and asked me to attend People’s School. I agreed so I could continue my education. I am happy because my dream has come true. I can achieve what I want,” she said while expressing her goal to become a member of the defense forces specialized in biology.

Meanwhile, Putri Mauliza, a 7th-grade student, said that life at People’s School makes her more independent and disciplined, adding that the school also provides useful facilities.

“The school provides the uniforms, school supplies, and even menstrual pads. It provides complete facilities,” she said while sharing her experience of singing before President Prabowo.

“Thank you, President, for establishing a People’s School in Nagan Raya. We are grateful to be able to go to school here,” she said.

Parents also shared similar sentiments. Susilawati, a resident of Cot Kumbang village who has two children in the first year of junior high school, has observed a significant shift in her children’s daily lives.

“The difference is remarkable. My children used to be on their phones all the time, but now they’ve changed. They are polite and disciplined,” she said, expressing hope that the People’s School will reach more areas and give many underprivileged families similar opportunities.

The school principal, Samsuardi, stated that the students have shown changes even though learning activities only began three months ago.

“We have only operated for three months, and within three months, we saw many students’ behavioral changes. In the first months, we were overwhelmed to manage students who wanted to go home, but now, as you can probably see, no children wish to run away or go home from the school,” he said.

According to Samsuardi, the greatest impact of People’s School is providing access to quality education to children of underprivileged families.

“People’s School truly helps underprivileged families. This is a large, luxurious school with complete facilities and teachers who went through a rigorous selection process, which used to be available exclusively to middle- and upper-class families. Now, the school is intended for families living in extreme poverty from deciles 1 and 2,” he said.

Nagan Raya People’s School provides not only a learning space but also opportunities that bring hope to its students.  (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (DH/TM)