Indonesia Boosts Connectivity for Underprivileged Students with Expanded Internet Access
jakarta, Indonesia – The Indonesian government is accelerating efforts to bridge the digital divide adn support equitable education access by providing high-speed internet and Wi-Fi to Sekolah Rakyat (People’s Schools), a nationwide initiative serving underprivileged children. The Ministry of Dialog and Digital Affairs is partnering with telecommunication operators to deliver these crucial services.
Director of Digital infrastructure strategy and Policy, Denny Setiawan, stated on Monday that the ministry is focused on providing fixed broadband connections, in coordination with the Ministry of Social Affairs, to facilitate teaching and learning. “Major cities are relatively well-covered. What we need to focus on now is ensuring continuity and sustainability. This will require coordinated budgeting, planning, and governance with the Social Affairs Ministry,” Setiawan explained. Discussions regarding internet speed, service quality, and funding mechanisms are ongoing with the Ministry of Social Affairs.
The initiative supports President Prabowo Subianto’s plan to expand education access through the establishment of 500 Sekolah Rakyat schools across Indonesia’s poorest regions. Currently, 100 schools are operational, with a projected 165 schools functioning by the end of September. These schools currently serve 15,895 students, supported by 2,407 teachers and 4,442 education personnel.
The Sekolah Rakyat program specifically targets areas with the highest poverty rates, aiming to reach the lowest-income communities and provide them with quality educational opportunities. This expanded internet access is intended to ensure these schools, even in remote areas, have the connectivity needed for modern learning.
