Indonesia launches micro-enterprise training for Sekolah Rakyat families

The Indonesian government has launched a pilot program in the Bandung Raya region to empower 100 mothers and guardians of Sekolah Rakyat students through micro-enterprise development training. The initiative aims to alleviate poverty by strengthening the economic independence of families alongside the education of their children.

According to Chacha Annisa, an expert from the Indonesian Government Communication Agency, there are currently 44,000 students enrolled across 182 Sekolah Rakyat institutions. The government intends to expand these empowerment efforts to help alleviate poverty for all 44,000 families.

The Bandung Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) has expressed support for the program, noting that integrating education with economic empowerment is essential to breaking the cycle of poverty. Local officials emphasized the need to target families in the lowest socioeconomic deciles and suggested aligning national efforts with regional programs, such as interest-free revolving funds and social security protections for informal workers.