Govt seeks bridging digital divide through Sekolah Rakyat

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government is committed to expanding equitable internet access nationwide to ensure younger generations benefit from digital infrastructure and improved educational opportunities.

This was conveyed by Wayan Toni Supriyanto, Director General of Digital Infrastructure at the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, in a statement on Monday.

He said the ministry is actively supporting Sekolah Rakyat — a tuition-free school program — as part of a national strategy to broaden educational access and accelerate digital transformation, particularly in remote regions.

“With digitalization, especially through Sekolah Rakyat, these communities will have new opportunities to grow,” Supriyanto said.

He emphasized that digital education requires more than just devices and internet access — it also demands a commitment to social justice so that every Indonesian child has an equal opportunity to learn and thrive.

To this end, the government is working to ensure universal access to quality education through strengthened digital infrastructure.

Supriyanto added that the ministry aims to support Sekolah Rakyat in producing high-achieving students to help realize the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision.

On Saturday, Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid provided high-speed internet access to two Sekolah Rakyat schools in Yogyakarta.

“In line with the president’s directive, these schools are being designed as smart schools, supported by internet services from the ministry,” she said in the statement.

The two schools — one in Bantul and one in Sleman — received internet connections with speeds of 100 Mbps for 75 students and 200 Mbps for 200 students, respectively.

Sekolah Rakyat (People’s School) is scheduled to begin operations in July 2025. For the initial phase, 100 school locations have been prepared.

Students eligible to enroll in these tuition-free schools are those from poor and extremely poor families.