People’s School in Tabanan Opens Doors for Bali’s Low-Income Students

President Prabowo Subianto visits People’s Junior High School 17 Tabanan in Bali province on Sunday (06/07).

For low-income families in Tabanan regency, Bali province, the People’s School (Sekolah Rakyat) program has made access to education affordable through subsidies, where it was previously beyond their financial reach.

Many parents shared their experiences during President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to People’s Junior High School 17 Tabanan.

Ni Putu Yuniawati, a local resident, noted that the free school program for underprivileged children has enabled her son, Rizky, to continue his secondary education and pursue his dream of becoming an agricultural engineer.

“I hope my children can achieve their dreams through schooling, which would otherwise be difficult given our financial situation, and I would like to thank the President for supporting underprivileged families,” she said.

The program’s financial relief was also highlighted by I Nyoman Sukonado, a farmer who attended the school’s open house for prospective students. He stated that his irregular income had made it difficult to fund his children’s education, and that, as a result, five of his six children had previously been forced to stop studying after junior high school because of the cost.

“Thank you very much, Mr. Prabowo, for the program that subsidizes families like mine so our children can stay in school,” he said, adding that access to education is crucial for improving his family’s economy.

For other families, the school also serves as a hub for extracurricular development. Ni Putu Megayani shared that her daughter, Ni Made Ayu Arini, has been able to continue developing her athletic talents while keeping up with her studies. Arini, who previously competed in long jump at the provincial level, has now also taken up badminton through the school’s program.

“I am very proud of my daughter. The People’s School has helped her become more independent and achieve new milestones. I want her to be literate, unlike me,  and to succeed and seize opportunities that I never had,” Medayani said.

The stories shared by Yuniawati, Sukonado, and Megayani show that the People’s School program not only offers underprivileged children classrooms for academic learning but also creates opportunities for self-development and pursuing their aspirations. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (DH/TM)