President Prabowo Focuses on Education and Village Economy

Presiden Prabowo Subianto leads a limited meeting and briefing with the Red and White Cabinet members at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, on Tuesday, March 4th, 2025. (Photo by: Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat)

President Prabowo Subianto held a limited meeting and briefing with the Red and White Cabinet members at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, on Tuesday (03/05). In this meeting, President Prabowo Subianto discussed Government’s priority programs, including increasing access to education, strengthening village economy, and affirming commitment to corruption eradication.

In his statement after the meeting, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya stated that the President gave some directives regarding the importance of education for all Indonesian children. One of the main programs that gained attention was the construction of public schools and superior schools.

“The President will build public schools, superior schools, then improve educational facilities in remote areas, including learning infrastructure,” stated Bima Arya.

Meanwhile, Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf, on a separate occasion, stated that the President encouraged the acceleration of public schools’ construction. According to him, President Prabowo encouraged his Cabinet members to work together with local governments, so that the opening of public schools, especially for children from poor and extremely poor families, can be implemented immediately.

“Certainly, we will identify, we will make a better planning in order to realize the President’s directive. However, it is clear that these public schools will be intended for children from poor or extremely poor families,” explained Minister Saifullah Yusuf.

“The public school will be in the form of a boarding school. The plan, insya Allah, is to build public schools ranging from elementary school, junior high school, to vocational school,” the Minister added.

In addition to education sector, during the meeting, the President also conveyed his plan to establish 70,000 village cooperatives that will function as outlets for basic commodities, medicines, and health clinics. “He stated that previously, it was Rp1 billion for 1 village, now it can be Rp7 billion for 1 village. One billion rupiah is allocated for village funds and Rp6 billion is for free nutritious meal program (MBG) fund. So, the budget for villages is very huge now,” Deputy Minister Bima Arya stated.

The Head of State also emphasized that the Government’s priority programs must be implemented without hesitation and that criticism is part of an effort to improve the policies taken by the Government.

“Criticism is normal, criticism makes us more careful and alert. However, we are now on the track,” the Deputy Minister said.

In addition, the President also affirmed his steadfast commitment to corruption eradication by encouraging stricter law enforcement against perpetrators.

“The President expressed his anger at the individuals who crossed the line. Although they have been warned, they still steal people’s money. It would be better if hundreds of trillions were used for free nutritious meal program, education, and health,” Deputy Minister of Home Affairs added.

Today’s limited meeting also serves as a momentum to strengthen cooperation between the Red and White cabinet members. The President continued to motivate his staff to focus on achievements and ensure that priority programs go according to plan.

“I think it is about continuous consolidation. It was not really a strong message. It was his manner of building togetherness, he greeted everyone in the meeting, he even came to every table,” Bima Arya said. (Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat)(TCUD/AW/MUR)