Cutting Poverty Cycle, President Prabowo to Launch Boarding Schools for Underprivileged Families

President Prabowo joins in the Halal Bihalal gathering with retired Indonesian Army personnel and the extended family of Indonesian Army and Police at Balai Kartini, Jakarta, on Tuesday (05/06) (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)

President Prabowo Subianto revealed a major government plan in the education sector, the development of 100 boarding schools every year for students from low-income families. This program was mentioned during the Halal Bihalal gathering with retired Indonesian Army personnel and the extended family of Indonesian Army and Police at Balai Kartini, Jakarta, on Tuesday (05/06).

“I will build at least 100 boarding schools each year, for the most underprivileged families, because I am determined to cut the poverty cycle. If the father is a scavenger, his child must not be a scavenger,” President Prabowo emphasized in his speech.

The Head of State explained that these schools will prioritize students from the lowest economic backgrounds. The verification will be carried out using data from the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform, and the Indonesian Statistics.

“They have the data and can check the families’ living conditions,” stated the President.

On that occasion, President Prabowo highlighted a real-life example by showcasing the profile of a prospective student named Naila, a child from a family earning less than one million rupiah per month, who remains optimistic despite her difficult circumstances. The President affirmed that the effort to provide a better future for children like Naila would be a primary focus of his administration.

“For the rest of my life, my fight is for changing the fate of children in Indonesia, like Naila,” he said passionately.

President Prabowo also mentioned that 53 of 55 boarding schools are targeted to begin operating in July 2025. This program is expected to be a concrete action toward cutting the intergenerational poverty cycle.

“We must dare. Those who dare, win. Dare to be right, and you will succeed. Be brave, then be right. Once you dare to be right, you will succeed. You have to be brave first. If you are not brave, you will not get anything,” said the President.

The President expressed optimism that with strong determination, courage, and a clean government that sides with the underprivileged people, the future of Indonesian children will be brighter. “Only with courage, determination, conviction, and the will to lead a clean government movement, an anti-corruption government, safeguarding the national wealth, children like Naila will have a good future,” the President concluded.

(BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (RD/LW)