Sekolah Rakyat phase II is scheduled to open in July: Minister

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Minister of Public Works (PU), Dody Hanggodo, has confirmed that the Phase II People’s School buildings will be ready for use in July 2026.

"We have agreed with the Ministry of Social Affairs that by July, students of Sekolah Rakyat programme should be able to move into their proper school buildings," Hanggodo said here on Friday (June 19).

Nationwide, Hanggodo added, the construction progress of Sekolah Rakyat is likely to have reached nearly 81 per cent completion.

The global geopolitical tensions arising from the US and Iran conflict, he said, have had a significant impact, leading to a rise in the prices of all building materials, such as fuel prices have also risen, causing the construction of the second phase of the People’s Schools programme to slow down at several sites.

Related news: Sekolah Rakyat construction reaches 78 pct nationwide: Minister

However, he emphasised this was not an excuse and his Ministry has been done everything in its power to ensure the construction of the schools' programme could be fully completed.

"We are still doing our utmost to ensure all 93 Sekolah Rakyat in the second phase project are fully operational. Realistically, several locations, such as Brebes in Central Java, are quite challenging, but I am confident that more than 90 percent of the 93 sites will be functional. Our hope is to reach 100 percent," Hanggodo noted.

The Ministry has also launched the tender process for the third phase project of Sekolah Rakyat, with construction targeted for completion by December 2026.

Related news: Prabowo urges Sekolah Rakyat' students embody diligence, integrity

Meanwhile, Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf appreciated the support provided by the Public Works Ministry in accelerating the provision of facilities and infrastructure for the programme.

He said the Ministry of Public Works had provided strong support for the operation of Sekolah Rakyat, particularly in developing educational facilities and infrastructure.

The challenges on the ground are indeed significant, Yusuf said, but Minister Hanggodo has been personally involved and continues to work to accelerate the process so that these facilities can be used for learning in the new school year.

Related news: Prabowo seeks faster expansion of Sekolah Rakyat program

Translator: Suharsana Aji Sasra J C , Martha Herlinawati Siman

Editor: Fransiska Ninditya

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