BEKASI, thekabarnews.com—Indonesia’s Sekolah Rakyat (community school) program now serves more than 45,000 students from disadvantaged families as the government expands its network of free boarding schools nationwide.

Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya highlighted the program during an unannounced visit to an integrated community school in Cikarang, Bekasi Regency, on Sunday evening, Oct. 25. He visited the campus after returning from President Prabowo Subianto’s residence in Hambalang, West Java.

“Last night, on my way back from Hambalang, I stopped by the integrated Community School in Cikarang. I deliberately came without prior notice because I wanted to observe the children’s daily routine before bedtime,” Teddy said in a statement published by Cabinet Secretariat.

During the visit, Teddy sat with students as they read an illustrated book about the 1928 Youth Pledge. He also inspected the school’s classrooms, dormitory and supporting facilities before speaking with teachers and dormitory supervisors.

Teddy said the new building had adequate learning facilities and a strategic location. He praised the school staff for accompanying students throughout their daily academic and residential activities.

One of the students Teddy met was Al Tariq, who lost both parents when he was three years old. The student told Teddy that he wanted to become a medical specialist.

“At the People’s School, he now has another opportunity to study and pursue a major ambition—to become one of Indonesia’s best medical specialists someday,” Teddy said.

Teddy later joined the students in singing and accompanied them as they prepared to sleep.

The community school provides tuition-free education, accommodation, nutritious meals and health services. The government primarily selects students from households in the lowest two income groups recorded in the National Socioeconomic Single Database. The program also reaches children who have dropped out or never attended formal school.

Government figures require some distinction between schools already operating and those still under development. In January 2026, Prabowo inaugurated 166 Community Schools across 34 provinces and 131 regencies and cities. Those schools served 15,954 students at the time, according to the State Secretariat.

The government subsequently expanded enrollment for the 2026–2027 academic year, bringing the reported number of students to more than 45,000.

Officials have described 265 schools as the planned network, comprising existing sites and about 100 additional permanent campuses. Therefore, the figure should not be interpreted as confirmation that all 265 campuses had finished construction by October.

President Prabowo has set a longer-term target of 500 community schools by 2029. Each permanent campus is expected to include classrooms, dormitories and other supporting facilities.

“Hopefully, every Indonesian child, without exception, will eventually achieve their dreams,” Teddy said.

The expansion gives more children from poor households access to education and stable accommodation. Its long-term success, however, will depend on teacher availability, student protection and consistent educational standards across the growing network.