Press Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia after the Inspection of People’s Senior High School (SRMA) 10 Margaguna, South Jakarta, Jakarta Special Region, Thursday, September 11, 2025

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Prabowo Subianto)
This is one of 100 people’s schools that have been in operation to date. Based on a report I received, the number will increase to 165 by the end of September, or in two or three weeks. God willing, I will inaugurate them in October. I have inspected them, and I think they are quite good. Thanks to the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, teachers, dormitory supervisors, all elements that have worked hard, the progress is going this fast, beyond my expectation.

Next year, we will have 100 more [people’s schools], and we will build 100 more [people’s schools] every year. Our target is to build 500 people’s schools in economically disadvantaged areas for people living in poverty, or in statistical terms, those belonging to deciles 1 and 2. However, we are also planning the program for people in deciles 2, 3, 4, and 5. We are preparing this to provide education with good facilities for all our children. We cannot afford to be left behind by other nations. That is our aspiration. God willing, we will get there.

Alhamdulillah, thanks to people’s schools, children who once dropped out of school can now continue their education. As for children who may once have felt inferior because their parents live in hardship, we will bring them out of poverty and provide them with the best possible environment, so they will gain confidence and receive the best education we can provide. We cannot expect changes will always happen naturally as we wish, but if we must intervene in the process, we will certainly do it to help the cause.
I think that concludes my statement.

Journalists
Any comment or improvement that you would suggest relating to this first visit, Sir?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Prabowo Subianto)
Well, we will never run out of hope, but this school is actually a very good campus. I think it is a very good school in terms of Indonesian schools. The beds are good. Every three or two students is provided with a bathroom. By comparison, when I was in Military Academy, 60 cadets used a single bathroom with no partitions, using water dippers.

Journalists
Sir, what about technology that will be used in the people’s schools, such as laptops?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Prabowo Subianto)
Well, we aim to catch up. We have already made huge investment in education. However, we should realize and make corrections, we must admit that maybe we are still inefficient and there are a lot of budget leaks. We should improve our weaknesses for sure. But that is it, do not overthink the past, we improve what we have done. So, we must be all out now. We want to be economical; we want to save our resources. We must eradicate corruption.
We invest the large remaining budget in education, because the children are our future. So, in all situations, we must use technology. To date, we are able to distribute one smart digital screen for one school. So, it means that this year we expect to distribute it to 330 thousand schools. I received a report stating that 100 thousand schools will receive it by November 10. To date, only 10 thousand schools have received it. 100 thousand [other schools] will have received it by November 10.

Next year, one school will be provided with three smart digital screens. Ideally, one class should have one smart digital screen to deliver school subjects through the best contents and animation, and we can conduct long-distance education or tele-education. It is going to help outermost and remote areas, as well as areas in Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi islands that face teacher shortages, or whose local teachers perhaps have not got adequate training.

We will select the best teachers for each subject, maybe 20 to 30 best teachers. Each subject will be broadcast from remote studios. So, in theory, these teachers can help all classes throughout Indonesia. So, we will use technology. Also, smart TV facilities can operate in an interactive way. Through the camera, I can do remote monitoring, I can see classes that have no teachers, I can see classes with overwhelmed teachers. So, we can monitor them. So, we will put all our efforts to prepare our children and give them the best education. We cannot afford to fall behind because in the future, global competition will be intense.

Journalists
What about the inauguration for some ministers, Sir? Such as for Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs and Minister of Youth and Sports?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Prabowo Subianto)
Well, we will see. Just wait, keep monitoring.

Cabinet Secretary (Teddy Indra Wijaya)
OK, well, thank you. We should focus only on the people’s school right now.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Prabowo Subianto)
OK. Let’s focus on people’s schools, not on Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs. Stay calm.

Journalists
What about the standards established for the teachers? Some teachers have to walk a long distance to go to the school, Sir. Will the Government provide any dormitories for them, because some teachers said that their houses are very far from schools, so how will the standards be set?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Prabowo Subianto)
Well, we will make many improvements. We will prove that it is not just a wishful thinking. We have a dream, a vision; we should start with ideals and dreams, and strive to realize them. To date, we already have 100 people’s schools. In next week, or within the next two weeks, there will be another 65 [people’s schools], then in next year, another 100 [people’s schools]. We will also improve other schools. We make the impossible possible with good intention, confidence, and strong determination. Always think big and do our best. Make the impossible what?

Minister of Education for the 2009-2014 period (Mohammad Nuh)
Make the impossible possible.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Prabowo Subianto)
That is the teaching from him, former Minister of Education and former Minister of Communication and Informatics.

Journalists
So, does it mean that the teachers will be continuously provided with educational training, Sir?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Prabowo Subianto)
Yes, continuously. So, the smart TV will enable flexible learning, because the contents are accessible for 24 hours. The students can access materials at any time. They will be able to repeat the recorded lessons which can be accessed through cell phones. All contents are accessible through cell phones. When the teachers have finished teaching their lessons, the students can still access the materials taught. So, the learning process is interactive. So, I think there will be interactive sessions and special training provided by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for the teachers. The technology will make it easy for us to do it. OK. Thank you. (AW/TM)