Latest news with #SocialAffairsMinistry
The Star
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Hasty school launch under scrutiny
The government is moving at full speed to prepare for the launch of President Prabowo Subianto 's flagship education initiative, Sekolah Rakyat (community school), which aims to provide free boarding school education to underprivileged children from elementary to secondary levels. With the programme scheduled to open in July, just months after its announcement, the focus has been on renovating state-owned buildings as well as recruiting teachers and support staff to meet the tight timeline. However, as the Public Works Ministry scrambles to retrofit dozens of facilities and the Social Affairs Ministry accelerates staffing efforts, critics warn that the programme's foundation remains shaky, with key questions about planning, quality and inclusivity left unanswered. Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf says the new schools for the programme will provide facilities on a par with top-tier institutions without tests on academic performance or IQ, which often restrict access to quality education. 'The only requirement to enter a Sekolah Rakyat is that the children come from poor families and have a willingness to learn,' Saifullah said on Wednesday on the ministry's website. But many are skeptical that the government's timeline allows for the delivery of meaningful quality education or a thorough assessment of students' needs. The Public Works Ministry began 65 renovation projects in early May, followed by another 35 scheduled projects, which aim to convert buildings managed by the Social Affairs Ministry or the local government into school facilities. But the renovation drive sparked a public backlash last week after it displaced visually impaired students from a century-old special needs school to make way for the programme. The school is located in a rehabilitation centre run by the Social Affairs Ministry in Bandung, West Java, part of which is being converted into a community school. In response to the criticism, the government has pledged to return the students to the former school once renovations are complete. Meanwhile, an online recruitment has been launched to select principals from a pool of 160. The new programme would use a three-stage curriculum framework geared toward developing the unique talents of students. The first stage begins in June, when students arrive, and is designed to evaluate their physical fitness and health, as well as academic abilities. The second stage begins when the school year starts in July, with all students following the national curriculum. The third stage runs concurrently with a special curriculum for evening classes which focuses on character development, religious and civic values, digital literacy and essential life skills. — The Jakarta Post/ANN
The Star
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Indonesian government races against time to launch Sekolah Rakyat aimed at providing free education for underprivileged children
JAKARTA (Jakarta Post/ANN): The government is moving at full speed to prepare for the launch of President Prabowo Subianto 's flagship education initiative, Sekolah Rakyat (community school), which aims to provide free boarding school education to underprivileged children from elementary to secondary levels. With the program scheduled to open in July, just months after its announcement, the focus has been on renovating state-owned buildings as well as recruiting teachers and support staff to meet the tight timeline. However, as the Public Works Ministry scrambles to retrofit dozens of facilities and the Social Affairs Ministry accelerates staffing efforts, critics warn that the program's foundation remains shaky, with key questions about planning, quality and inclusivity left unanswered. Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf says the new schools for the program will provide facilities on a par with top-tier institutions without tests on academic performance or IQ, which often restrict access to quality education. 'The only requirement to enter a Sekolah Rakyat is that the children come from poor families and have a willingness to learn,' Saifullah said on Wednesday in a statement on the ministry's website. But many are skeptical that the government's timeline allows for the delivery of meaningful quality education or a thorough assessment of students' needs. The Public Works Ministry began 65 renovation projects in early May, followed by another 35 scheduled projects, which aim to convert buildings managed by the Social Affairs Ministry or the local government into Sekolah Rakyat facilities. But the renovation drive sparked a public backlash last week after it displaced visually impaired students from a century-old special needs school to make way for the programme. The school is located in a rehabilitation center run by the Social Affairs Ministry in Bandung, West Java, part of which is being converted into a community school. In response to the criticism, the government has pledged to return the students to their former school once renovations are complete, adding that part of the new facility will be dedicated to accommodating visually impaired students. Meanwhile, the ministry has launched an online recruitment interview to select principals from a pool of 160. Successful candidates will then join a training program provided by the ministry, followed by an internship at existing schools that share the values of the Sekolah Rakyat programme. The online recruitment, managed in collaboration with the Elementary and Secondary Education Ministry, will then proceed with the selection of dormitory supervisors, wardens and teachers. Schools minister Abdul Mu'ti said on Wednesday that teachers would be selected from those currently working at schools rather than new graduates, Antara reported. The final quota for Sekolah Rakyat staff would depend on the number of schools ready to open by July, he added. Mohammad Nuh, who chairs the Sekolah Rakyat Formation Team, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday that the new program would use a three-stage curriculum framework geared toward developing the unique talents of each student. The first stage begins in June, when students arrive at the boarding schools, and is designed to evaluate their physical fitness and health, as well as academic abilities. The second stage begins when the school year starts in July, with all students following the national curriculum. The third stage runs concurrently with a special curriculum for evening classes developed by the Social Affairs Ministry, which focuses on character development, religious and civic values, digital literacy and essential life skills. 'The main point is talent mapping, as we want to develop each student's unique talents,' Nuh said. Fikri Muslim, an education expert with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), criticized Sekolah Rakyat as a hastily executed program with a political bent. 'The only real urgency seems to be fulfilling President Prabowo's campaign promise,' Fikri said on Thursday. He also questioned the use of repurposed buildings located far from the low-income communities they aimed to serve and chastised the recruitment scheme as poaching teachers from areas already struggling with shortages. Itje Chodidjah from the nonprofit Center for Education and Policy Studies (PSPK) warned the program risked doing more harm than good by isolating disadvantaged children in boarding schools disconnected from their families and communities. 'A big hindrance to their development is that they [will] feel mentally insecure outside their immediate family and community,' Itje said on Thursday. 'Sequestering dozens of [students] into a single compound could make them feel even more isolated.' She urged the government to address the psychosocial needs of disadvantaged children, not just focus on their intellectual and physical development. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
The Star
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Prabowo's community schools for low-income children start selecting students
Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf (centre) talking with South Sulawesi Governor Andi Sudirman Sualiman (left) and Makassar Mayor Munafri Arifuddin (right) when inspecting a potential location for community schools in Makassar, South Sulawesi on May 8, 2025. - Antara JAKARTA: The government continues to work to prepare for the establishment of Sekolah Rakyat (community schools), President Prabowo Subianto's flagship programme aimed at low-income families, as authorities start to select potential students ahead of their nationwide opening slated for this year. After months of finalising the project, the administrative selection stage for prospective students has started, according to Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf. At least 8,000 student hopefuls have so far registered to enrol in regions where the schools have been slated to open. Sekolah Rakyat will utilise either buildings owned by the Social Affairs Ministry or halls run by local administrations. 'We have started [the process] by visiting one of the prospective students in Bandar Lampung today,' Saifullah said during his visit to the Lampung provincial capital on Monday. On his trip across provinces to inspect the schools' locations over the week, local authorities also helped the minister assess the students' houses to collect data on their families' social and economic conditions. Prospective students will have to come from households that are included in the 'poverty' and 'extreme poverty' categories in the government's Single National Social and Economic Data (DTSEN) system to be considered for the school. After it finishes collecting the students' data, the Social Affairs Ministry will perform a health examination on the students before finalising their enrollment. Saifullah stressed there would be no academic test for the students. Officially announced by President Prabowo in March, Sekolah Rakyat will be free of any cost. The boarding-school programme will cover elementary, junior and senior high school levels. In a limited interview with media leaders, Prabowo said the boarding school system would teach discipline and provide good meals to the impoverished children, while giving them a proper education to break their families' chains of poverty. The President aimed to open a total of 200 Sekolah Rakyat across the nation, with at least 53 planned for the first phase, and are scheduled to open in the upcoming academic year starting in July. Around 1,000 students are expected to enrol at each school. The schools that are ready for the July opening have since grown to 65, according to Saifullah, after confirming that more buildings are available for use. Education observers have generally applauded the project, with many highlighting its importance while also stressing the need for the government to guide the students after they graduate. The Social Affairs Ministry is considering providing scholarships for Sekolah Rakyat graduates who want to continue their studies in the higher education level. 'We want to direct these future Sekolah Rakyat graduates to continue paving their future according to their passions,' Minister Saifullah said on Monday. He added that the ministry would provide graduates with planning to enter a specific job market or upskilling course, although he did not elaborate further on the plan. 'Essentially, we want to provide these students opportunities to either continue their education at university level or to work immediately.' Despite the warm response, some experts have been critical of the project, with Anggi Afriansyah of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) previously urging extra attention and 'cultural sensitivity' in providing education for students coming from impoverished environments. Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Abdul Mu'ti, whose ministry is assisting the Social Affairs Ministry in the project, previously said the schools' curriculum would allow its students to reach their academic goals at their own pace. The schools ministry is also in charge of recruiting teachers for Sekolah Rakyat, with the recruitment drive having opened in April. Mu'ti said the teachers recruited for the programme would have Teacher's Professional Education (PPG) certification and would teach more than one subject. Minister Saifullah added that English and mathematics would be introduced in the early phase of the learning process. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
New Straits Times
03-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Indonesia mulling proposal to make poor people 'exchange manhood' for govt aid
KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesia's Social Affairs Ministry is mulling a controversial proposal to make vasectomy a family planning requirement for those seeking government assistance and scholarships. Vasectomy is a sterilisation procedure for males, in which the tubes that carry sperm out from the testicles are cut. The condition was suggested by West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi. Vasectomy is considered a simple and permanent form of birth control. Although it can be reversed in some cases, the success is not guaranteed. Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf said on Wednesday that while the proposal had merit, the government still needed time to study the implementation in detail. "Integrating family planning into government assistance programmes is a good idea, but we need more time to examine the proposal thoroughly. "There is a formal process for distributing government aid, and we cannot make changes on a whim," he said. Dedi was previously reported to have proposed the idea to Saifullah, stating that many poor families continued to have numerous children despite struggling to meet their basic needs. He said limiting the number of children among low-income citizens would help ensure that government assistance was distributed equitably, rather than being disproportionately consumed by large families. "We want all forms of government assistance to be tied to family planning. If your children want to apply for a government-funded scholarship, you must practise contraception. "To qualify for housing repair subsidies, you must also be engaged in family planning if you are of reproductive age," he said. Dedi argued that vasectomy was an ideal form of contraception for poor families, stressing that "men should also bear responsibility for reproduction", and noting that women sometimes forgot to take their contraceptive pills. He also announced that men who agreed to undergo a vasectomy would receive an incentive of 500,000 rupiah (RM130) per person. However, the proposal had sparked backlash. Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights deputy head Abdul Haris criticised the proposal, calling it discriminatory and a potential violation of human rights. "If enforced, it could constitute a breach of human rights. Vasectomy should be a voluntary decision," he said. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) declared that the measure was forbidden (haram) in Islam if the intention was to permanently sterilise a man. MUI Fatwa Committee head Asrorun Niam Sholeh said it was only permissible under strict conditions, such as when a person had a specific medical condition. "Even then, there must be assurance that the man can regain his reproductive ability. Since current vasectomy reversal procedures cannot guarantee full restoration of reproductive function, the procedure remains haram," said Asrorun. Success rates for vasectomy reversals could vary, with studies suggesting sperm returning to the semen in 70 to 90 per cent of cases. But the outcome could be influenced by factors such as the time elapsed since the procedure, scarring and the surgeon's expertise.
The Star
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Indonesia mulls controversial vasectomy plan for those seeking govt assistance
West Java governor-elect Dedi Mulyadi (centre) believes that limiting the number of children among underprivileged individuals would help ensure that government assistance is distributed more equitably. - Antara JAKARTA: The Social Affairs Ministry is considering a controversial proposal by West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi to make vasectomy a requirement for individuals seeking government assistance and scholarships. A vasectomy is a procedure in which a man's tubes that carry sperm are cut or blocked to prevent pregnancy, effectively making a man sterile. It is considered a permanent form of birth control, although in some cases, it can be reversed through another surgical procedure, though success rates for reversal are not guaranteed. "Integrating family planning in the government assistance programme is a good idea, but we still need time to study the proposal in detail. There's a set process for distributing government aid, and we can't change it on a whim," Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf said on Wednesday (April 30), as reported by Kompas. Dedi recently proposed the idea to Saifullah, highlighting that many underprivileged families have numerous children despite struggling to provide for their basic needs. "I met a child selling cakes at a town square in Majalengka Regency. When I spoke to his father, he was unemployed, had 10 children and his wife was pregnant with their eleventh," he said on Monday. "[...] If they can't provide a decent standard of living for their children, they should stop having more," he added. Dedi further stated that limiting the number of children among underprivileged individuals would help ensure that government assistance is distributed more equitably, rather than being concentrated on families with many children. 'We want all government assistance to be tied to family planning. If your children want to apply for a government-funded scholarship, you must be using contraception. To qualify for housing repair subsidies, you must also practise family planning if you are of reproductive age,' he said. He also argued that vasectomy would be an ideal form of contraception for underprivileged families, explaining that "men should also bear responsibility for reproduction," and that women sometimes forget to take their contraceptive pills. Dedi also announced that men who agree to undergo a vasectomy would receive an incentive of Rp 500,000 per person. However, Abdul Haris, the Deputy Head of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), criticised the proposal, calling it discriminatory and a potential violation of human rights. "Requiring a vasectomy to qualify for government assistance is overly burdensome for underprivileged families. If the government enforces this policy, it could infringe upon human rights. Vasectomy should be a voluntary decision," he said on Thursday as quoted by Tempo. The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has issued a statement declaring vasectomy haram (forbidden) for Muslims if the intention is to permanently sterilise a man. "It is only allowed under very strict conditions, such as when an individual has a specific medical condition. Even then, there must be a guarantee that the man can regain his reproductive capacity," said Asrorin Niam Sholeh, Head of the MUI Fatwa Committee, on Thursday. "However, since at the moment vasectomy reversal surgery cannot fully guarantee the restoration of a man's reproductive function, it remains haram," he added. Success rates for vasectomy reversal can vary, with studies suggesting that sperm return to semen in 70 per cent to 90 per cent of cases. Factors such as the time since the procedure, scar tissue and the surgeon's skill can all affect the success rates. Asrorin said the government must be objective and transparent in educating the public about vasectomy, including the risks and expensive reversal procedure. He also remarked that contraception should not be used to permanently prevent individuals from having children. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
