Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Inauguration of 166 People’s Schools in 34 Provinces, Banjarbaru City, South Kalimantan Province
[Monday, January 12, 2026]
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Good afternoon,
May prosperity be upon us all,
Shalom,
Salve,
Om swastiastu,
Namo Buddhaya,
Greetings of virtue,
Honorable Minister of Social Affairs Mr. Saifullah Yusuf as the organizer;
Vice Minister of Social Affairs Mr. Agus Jabo Priyono and all Officials and Staff of the Ministry of Social Affairs;
Honorable Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Affairs Mr. Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar, all Coordinating Ministers, Ministers, Heads of Agencies, Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI), Chief of the Indonesian National Police, and all Red-and-White Cabinet members, Vice Ministers, Vice Heads of Agencies present here;
Distinguished Regional Heads present here;
Honorable Governor of South Kalimantan Mr. Muhidin;
Honorable Governor of East Java Mrs. Khofifah Indar Parawansa;
Honorable Governor of Jambi Mr. Al Haris;
Honorable Governor of Southeast Sulawesi Mr. Andi Sumangerukka, Honorable Governor of East Nusa Tenggara Mr. Emanuel Melkiades Laka;
Honorable Governor of North Maluku Mrs. Sherly Tjoanda, Honorable Governor of West Nusa Tenggara Mr. Lalu Muhamad Iqbal;
Governors, Regents, and Mayors;
Distinguished Regents present here:
Regent of Ogan Komering Ulu Mr. Teddy Meilwansyah;
Regent of Anambas Islands Mr. Aneng;
Regent of Natuna Mr. Cen Sui Lan;
Regent of Kaur Mr. Gusril Pausi;
Regent of South Lampung Mr. Radityo Egi Pratama;
Regent of Lebak Mr. Mochamad Hasbi Asyidiki Jayabaya;
Regent of Pandeglang Mrs. Raden Dewi Setiani;
Regent of Sumedang Mr. Dony Ahmad Munir;
Regent of Kuningan Mr. Dian Rachmat Yanuar;
Regent of Majalengka Mr. Eman Suherman;
Regent of Wonosobo Mr. Afif Nurhidayat;
Regent of Cilacap Mr. Syamsul Auliya Rachman;
Regent of Rembang Mr. Harno;
Regent of Sragen Mr. Sigit Pamungkas;
Regent of Katingan Mr. Saiful;
Regent of Barito Kuala Mr. Bahrul Ilmi;
Regent of Boalemo Mr. Rum Pagau;
Regent of Pangkajene Islands Mr. Muhammad Yusron Lalu Gau;
Regent of Soppeng Mr. Suwardi Haseng;
Regent of Central Buton Mr. Azhari;
Regent of Central Maluku Mr. Zulkarnain Awat Amir;
Regent of Bone Mr. Andi Asman Sulaiman;
Mayor of Bandar Lampung Mrs. Eva Dwiana;
Mayor of Cirebon Mr. Effendi Edo;
Mayor of Kediri Mrs. Vinanda Prameswati;
Mayor of Blitar Mr. Syauqul Muhibbin;
Mayor of Pasuruan Mr. Adi Wibowo;
Mayor of Palangka Raya Mr. Fairid Naparin;
Mayor of Banjar Baru Mrs. Erna Lisa Halaby;
Distinguished Coordinating Ministers present here:
Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Mr. Pratikno;
Mr. Muhaimin, I have already mentioned him;
Ministry of State Secretary Mr. Prasetyo Hadi;
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Sugiono;
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Professor Abdul Mu’ti;
Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Professor Brian Yuliarto;
Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs Mrs. Meutya Fiyada Hafid;
Distinguished Minister of Public Works Mr. Dody Hanggodo;
Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reforms Mrs. Rini Widyantini;
Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Mrs. Arifah Choiri Fauzi;
Minister of Transportation Mr. Dudy Purwagandhi;
Commander of Indonesian National Defense Forces Mr. Agus Subiyanto;
Chief of the Indonesian National Police Mr. Listyo Sigit Prabowo;
Cabinet Secretary Lieutenant Colonel Teddy Indra Wijaya;
Chief of Presidential Staff Mr. Muhammad Qodari;
Head of Government Communication Agency Mr. Angga Raka Prabowo;
Why are so many persons named Prabowo? Persons named Prabowo must be good ones. Hopefully, insya Allah (God willing).
Head of Statistics Indonesia Mrs. Amalia Widyasanti;
Head of the Development Finance Comptroller Mr. Muhammad Yusuf Ateh. Where do you come from, Mr. Ateh? Are you Sundanese? Palembangnese and Sundanese? OK.
Head of the Agency for the Acceleration of Poverty Alleviation Mr. Budiman Sudjatmiko. Is he present here? Please help me take attendance. I am actually taking it.
Head of the Indonesian National Library Mr. Aminudin Aziz;
Vice Minister of Health Mr. Benyamin Paulus Octavianus;
Vice Minister of Home Affairs Police Lieutenant General Akhmad Wiyagus;
Vice Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Mr. Ossy Dermawan.
Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for your patience. Why should I mention the names of the officials present here one by one? Because they have put their best efforts and a lot of their time to attend this event. So, they deserve special mention.
Oh, have I not mentioned the Minister of National Development Planning yet? Oh, he is not on the list. How could this happen, Private Secretary? This is my Private Secretary, Mr. Agung Surahman. He will get married on Monday, January 18. A few days before he gets married, he still goes to work. So, although the list is not complete, I forgive him. This morning, I was surprised when he said, “I am going with you, Sir.” “Aren’t you going to get married soon? Have you prepared everything?” “Everything is well prepared, Sir.” He still wants to go to work, although he missed some little things.
Professor Rachmat Pambudy, thank you. Why did you take off your cap? Do you mean to look smart? So, bald people are usually smart. Smart people are not always bald, but bald people must be smart. And, I am lucky because there are many bald people in my team.
How many CEOs here? CEO of Agrinas Pangan. He came from East Timor, but since he is loyal to the Red-and-White, he joined us here. His name is Joao Mota. He has a very long name, Joao Angelo De Sousa Mota, right? He started going bald, he must be smart.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am so happy today.
I would like to thank all elements from all ministries and institutions, all elements who have worked to take a step, I think it is a breakthrough, a brave step. Thank you all, we have made this effort. And, frankly, I am quite happy and I am actually moved by the impacts we have made.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am talking about the way of living as a nation, the way of living as a nation …
Oh, I see my special assistant here, Mr. Yuza. He is also bald, isn’t he? I have two special assistants for communication affairs who prepare drafts of my speeches, Mr. Agung and Mr. Acil, from Garut city. You see they both are bald. So, my theory is right, they are smart, and indeed they are smart. Thank you.
So, Ladies and Gentlemen, the way of thinking on living as a nation, on conventional development, normatively is about building and growing. Meanwhile, neoliberal thinking suggests that it is all right if all the rich people make up only 0.1 percent of the population. According to this theory, it is all right if those at the upper levels are enjoying growth and excessive wealth, because later, the growth and the wealth will trickle down to those at the lower levels. That is what the theory tells us. However in fact, we do not know when they are going to trickle down to those at the lower levels. Probably, 300 hundred years later when we have all died.
I do not think it is suitable for us, for our country that had been colonized and gained independence through struggle, and had struggled hundreds of years to gain independence when most of our people had nothing. Afterward, we carried out development and spurred growth, but apparently, we only spur growth but fail to observe whether the growth has positive impact on the underprivileged people. At this point, the leaders must be aware of their duties. We must encourage ourselves to introspect, to identify our shortcomings, and to take action confidently.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Growth must go together with equality. A system that does not quickly fight for equality is less useful for a nation. I remind you all that the goal of our nation and our independence is to bring prosperity and a better life to all Indonesian people. Our nation’s founders emphasized this repeatedly, as stated in the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution. We must advance public welfare, and first of all we must protect the homeland of Indonesia. Protect what? Protect from what? Protect from threats. What threats? Protect from the threat of hunger, protect from the threat of poverty, protect from the threat of suffering, protect from the threat of disease. This is the goal of our independence.
Why do we have to be independent? We have our national anthem. Is the national anthem composed only to be sung?
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to remind all of you, especially smart people. We live as a nation to improve the lives of all Indonesian people, not just a select few, but all Indonesian people. That is the purpose of living as a nation.
And for that, I am grateful. At that time, I was indeed starting my career as a soldier, a TNI soldier, because the TNI is indeed the people’s army. From the early years of independence onwards, the TNI has always been in the most difficult places. Today, the TNI and Polri (Indonesian National Police) are present in the most difficult places, where people are suffering due to disasters in Sumatra and in several other places, together with other institutions, together with volunteers, but the TNI and Polri are present.
The TNI and Polri are actually one because the TNI and Polri were born from the struggle for independence. I always remind you that indeed, developed countries, western countries, seem to want to separate us. The police’s only concern is public order and security. Since the birth of the Republic, the police have joined the war. The police joined the war at the beginning, because we didn’t have the budget, we were uncertain at the beginning of the birth of the Republic.
So, especially in Indonesia, the TNI and Polri once belonged to a single entity, but that’s okay. What matters is the nature of breath, spirit, awareness, national consciousness, and love for one’s country. This is what matters most.
And I see, today we prove that all the elements are involved. And the role of our governors and regents is substantial. And I thank you all, our programs are successful because of everyone’s support: support from the regents, support from the mayors, support from the governors, support from the police’s leaders, support from the TNI’s leaders, support from all, from the ministries, from institutions everywhere. This serves as proof that we are doing something so that our children, who previously might have had difficulty going to school, now have hope.
And I’m amazed today, frankly amazed. There was a kid who can give speeches in several languages, it’s amazing. The kid has a very good command of English. I think so because I grew up overseas. So, if my English is good, it is normal because I had lived abroad. But this kid, he amazed me. What’s the name of the kid? To those kids who have good command of English, tell them to meet me! Maybe we should send them abroad. Do you agree?
And I was amazed, I have just met kids who won various olympiads and competitions, it is amazing. I was so amazed, and even, I was so moved. I hope the camera wasn’t aimed at me; it was also hard for me to hold back my tears. So was the Minister of Social Affairs. We were moved, we were in tears, because of what? Because we are proud and happy to see our children.
And we are moved and touched. Why? Imagine, imagine if at that time, we, I and the ministers, had not taken a brave stance. We did something out of the box. We build the best schools, boarding schools for those who may have no hope, those who come from disadvantaged families.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear children of the people’s schools, students, my children. Do not be discouraged. Don’t be ashamed if your parents are just laborers or just poor farmers or just scavengers. Don’t be ashamed. They are noble. They work hard for halal sustenance; they work extremely hard for your future. Do not be discouraged. Respect your parents. If necessary, go home, kneel and bow down to them, kiss their feet. Never be discouraged. They are nobler than those smart people who are also corruptors and betray their country and nation.
I respect scavengers more. I have more respect for becak (pedicab) drivers who work tirelessly than for those smart people who steal the people’s money. I have more respect.
Since I am the President, I can say so, right?
Ladies and Gentlemen,
So, I do not want the people’s schools’ students to be ashamed, never be ashamed. Always respect your parents. If they cannot afford [your needs], it is not their fault, it is not your parents’ fault. Indeed, our country has not been able to provide the best for all its people. But we will fight hard, we will fight hard so that all the country’s wealth will benefit all the Indonesian people.
I do not think I need to speak too long. I am afraid I will talk too much. If I deliver a speech, I can do it for two to three hours, especially when coffee is served, just like here. May I have a coffee, please? May I? To whom should I say my permission? I’d like to drink a coffee, please. Usually, after drinking a cup of coffee, I could deliver a speech to three hours. Can you stand to listen to me? Really? My children, do you still want to listen to me? My ministers could actually listen to my speech three or four times.
But I am so happy today. I think my ministries, my cabinet, are solid. Do not trust those too smart people who like to talk on social media and give analysis, speculating there was a split in Prabowo’s circle. Wow, it is exciting. It also gets me interested. Where did it come from?
But no, I feel the hard work, the solidity, the amazing team work. So, we achieve success after success, and show proof after proof.
December 31, 2025. I repeat. On December 31, 2025, Indonesia has officially achieved rice self-sufficiency. In the middle of 2024 and 2025, Indonesia experienced El Niño which was later followed by La Niña, a prolonged drought, and we could overcome them. We could make the highest rice production in the history of the Republic of Indonesia. Our rice reserves in government warehouses today are the highest in the history of the Republic of Indonesia.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
And we will continue to strengthen our production. Soon, we will be self-sufficient in corn for our farmers and livestock feed. After that, we will be self-sufficient in other commodities.
Also today we managed to see and inaugurate 166 people’s schools. Our target is to build 500 public schools by 2029, God willing, we will achieve it. And I regret, we still can’t produce more than we can do now, although we have made extraordinary efforts.
And for that, I convey my deepest respect to the Minister of Social Affairs and his staff who have worked so hard. Of course, they are supported by the Coordinating Ministers, Mr. Muhaimin, Professor Pratik, supported by the Ministers, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, the Minister of Religious Affairs. All the ministers who have provided support for this are extraordinary.
And I believe that ultimately, we will reach our target of 500 [people’s schools], and ultimately, our target is that each school will have 1,000 students. Today, we’ve only reached 15,000 (students), but I’ve been told that we might reach 30,000 (students) by the end of the year. Ultimately, my goal is that each people’s school campus will have 1,000 students. So, our target is 500,000 students.
My goal, by the end of my term of office, in 2029, is to change the fate of those living in extreme poverty, or those in the deciles 1 and 2, and to eradicate extreme poverty in Indonesia. I believe it can happen.
We have made so many achievements, but if I tell them in detail here, I think it would take too long. We are not arrogant, we are not proud, but we have to. We must be proud of our achievements; we must be proud with our evidence. We must not fail to appreciate success, we must not become a nation that has low self-esteem. It is okay to be humble, do not be insecure, do not be inferior. If Indonesia is always deemed bad, it is unacceptable, it is not right. Indonesia has made achievements, Indonesia can make achievements, Indonesia will make achievements, and Indonesia will rise to become a good country, a developed country, a prosperous country.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In the world full of turmoil and uncertainties, we are grateful that our country is still in good shape, our potential is immense, and our wealth is abundant. It was not easy to manage our wealth properly for decades. It was not easy.
Many people mock me, I know. Actually, not many, just a handful. They probably have money, they have the means, they can spread cynicism and pessimism, and they are most likely paid by foreign powers. That is what I believe, I am sure of it.
A clean, honest Indonesian will see what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong. Although we do good, we still get criticized for what we do. But that is okay; we do not hesitate.
Today, I feel that our determination was right and has been proven right. After six months, we see many improvements in our children, this is extraordinary.
So once again, I call on everyone, the entire Indonesian nation, to unite and work together to eradicate poverty and hunger from Indonesia. Let’s improve the lives of all Indonesians. Education is the means, the most effective means, to eradicate poverty. But education costs money. If our money is stolen or embezzled, it won’t be enough to build all the schools we want to build and all the campuses we want to build, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We face a shortage of doctors, we are in dire need of hundreds of thousands of doctors. Our people need doctors, dentists. Talking, slandering, scolding, and mocking will not do us any good. They won’t. We have to open more schools and universities.
And I will prove to all Indonesians that in the near future, we will open medical schools. And furthermore, in addition to these medical schools, I also plan to open engineering schools and so on. They will be open to all Indonesian children, and they do not have to pay; the state will pay for them.
I want scavengers’ children to become engineers, doctors, entrepreneurs, or generals. That is my dream, Ladies and Gentlemen. I would be proud to see that.
Once again, we must be brave. Whoever dares will win. Dare to act. Before action, dare to see the true situation. Dare to see difficulties, dare to face difficulties. Don’t run from difficulties, don’t hide them. Cope with difficulties, face them, overcome them. Only then will we rise as a nation. Is that enough?
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have to attend another event in Balikpapan city, the inauguration of a refinery, modernization of an oil refinery in Balikpapan city. With this oil refinery modernization, we will save a lot of foreign exchange. We will no longer need to import so much fuel.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We understand, we understand the problem. My team understands, and my team is working hard. We face it. At the time a disaster occurs, we overcome it, right? At the time problems arise, we overcome them. Thank you to everyone on my team. In front of the people, I said that I am proud of my team’s achievements, and I believe that in the coming months, we will continuously prove our achievements to the Indonesian people in the weeks, months, and years to come.
Of course, we do not have Prophet Moses’s staff. Nor do I have Prophet Solomon’s staff. It cannot happen instantly. But God willing, step by step, we are working quickly. A journey of a thousand kilometers begins with a single step, and we have already taken many steps, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Today, if I am not mistaken, the Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG) has reached 58 million beneficiaries, consisting of children, pregnant women, and the elderly, who receive meals every day, every school day. But pregnant women receive the meals seven days in a week. Fifty-eight million [beneficiaries] in one year. Which country can do that? Which country? And, we have provided food, if I am not mistaken, totaling three billion portions, Ladies and Gentlemen.
This is an achievement. And, God willing, by the end of this year, we will reach our target of more than 82 million beneficiaries. If we already reached 58 million in January, I believe we will reach it in December. However, the Head of the BGN [National Nutrition Agency] said, “No, Sir, we will reach it before December.”
Okay, do not force it. Be thorough. Do your best. We will also see the operation of at least 25,000 Red-and-White Cooperatives. Of 81,000 cooperatives that we have planned, we are confident that 25,000 cooperatives will be operational by March-April. This means that by the end of December 2026, the number of the Red-and-White cooperatives already operational will reach at least 60,000. This means that our economy will recover in all sectors.
So, it is. Thank you, once again, to all the elements who have work hard for the people’s schools. Thank you, my children, for your enthusiasm. Thank you, teachers, thank you principals.
Please educate them well. Teachers must always lead by example. Teachers must lead by example. I call on all teachers to always give their best, set an example. Appearing in front of students, teachers must be in good condition, orderly, and neat. If necessary, I also instruct the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri), in turns, perhaps, to send several officers to assist. They will visit the students, educate them, and teach them how to dress properly, how to wear a tie, and how to wear a beret.
I instruct Cabinet Secretary and Minister of State Secretary to give assistance, and Minister of Social Affairs to assist Coordinating Ministers. Check what is missing or incomplete, make necessary improvements. If their berets are too small, replace them with the ones that fit well.
So, Ladies and Gentlemen, the Indonesian children who will be educated at the people’s schools must be educated well. They should be well-groomed.
The performance of Pasuruan students were amazing. Really amazing. Tell their commander to meet me later. I think their performance can be compared to that of Taruna Nusantara High School’s students. They have good gesture, especially when they turn to the right, it was incredible. I have never seen that before. I do not know. Mr. Sugiono, are you the Head of Taruna Nusantara Institution? You graduated from Taruna Nusantara, right? I am not sure if you could do the same as they did. But you are now a minister, so I do not want to test you. Just sit down. It seems crazy, doesn’t it?
I’m Javanese, from Banyumas regency. Half Banyumas, half Sulawesi. So, Banyumas people are a bit different from Solo people. Any Solo people here? Solo people are soft-spoken, right? Banyumas people … I think Banyumas people are perhaps similar to Madurese. Is that so? If it is not true, I say it is not true. But if it is good, I say it is good. If it is great, I say it is great. If I am amazed, even if they are children, I say I am amazed. Their marching was extraordinary. Maybe, what should we do? Let’s give scholarships to those children, okay? Let’s find out how old they are, we should not hesitate.
Achievements must be appreciated, give them rewards immediately. One of our nation’s shortcomings is stinginess, stingy with rewards. But I am glad now that the TNI Commander and the National Police Chief are not stingy. Achievement is appreciated with promotion, nothing to lose, right? If civilians excel and they are still in school, give them scholarships. Send them to excellent schools. As for naughty children, keep guiding them. When I was young, I am a quite naughty student too.
I think that concludes my remarks. Thank you, once again.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
May prosperity be upon us all.
Shalom,
Salve,
Om santi santi santi om,
Namo Buddhaya,
Greetings of virtue,
May God the Almighty, Allah SWT always protect you all, protect our children. Stay motivated, keep working hard, keep studying, one day you will raise your parents to a better life.
Thank you, keep working hard. We are on the right track, whatever happens we do not hesitate. We will continue our struggling for the nation and the people of Indonesia.
Thank you. Let me conclude it here.
By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, on this afternoon, Monday, January 12, 2026, I am Prabowo Subianto, President of the Republic of Indonesia, hereby declare 166 People’s Schools open throughout Indonesia. (AW/TM)