Receiving a Visit from Commission VIII DPR RI, Cirebon City Government Ensures People’s School Students are Academically Smart and Socially Protected

CIREBON, Konntroversinews | Education for children from difficult economic backgrounds cannot only be completed in the classroom. Realizing this, the Cirebon City Government is taking progressive steps by not only providing an academic curriculum, but also inherent social protection through the Integrated People’s School (SRT) 1 which is located at SMPN 18 Cirebon City.

This commitment was confirmed when receiving a Specific Working Visit from Commission VIII DPR RI to Cirebon City, Thursday (12/2/2026). The Cirebon City Government wants to ensure that children from underprivileged families have a “second home” that guarantees their future. This program is the answer to concerns about out-of-school children who often encounter non-technical problems outside of school.

Assistant General Administration of the Cirebon City Secretariat, M. Arif Kurniawan, who was present representing the Mayor of Cirebon Effendi Edo, said that SRT is a form of real state presence in society that requires special attention.

“Through this program, we integrate educational services with social support so that students are not only academically intelligent, but also socially protected. We want them to feel safe while studying because their basic needs and protection have been taken into account by the system,” said Arif.

Arif does not deny that the SRT journey still faces many challenges in the field. He hopes that this central legislative visit can bring fresh air for the sustainability of the program, especially regarding improving infrastructure and improving the quality of human resources (HR) that manage it.

This specific work visit was also followed by an in-depth discussion regarding mapping objective conditions in the field. The Cirebon City Government hopes that the aspirations expressed, ranging from technical obstacles to budget needs, can be taken into consideration by Commission VIII DPR RI in its supervisory and budgeting functions at the central level.

“This step is proof that we don’t just want to produce smart graduates on paper, but rather build a resilient generation supported by a healthy and inclusive social system,” hoped Arif.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Center for Education, Training and Professional Development (Pusdiklatbangprof) of the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs, Aprizon Tanjung, who accompanied the visit expressed his appreciation for the running of the SRT in Cirebon City which has entered its eighth month. According to him, the consistency of Cirebon City is an important note for future national policy.

Aprizon revealed that the President gave directions for each Regency/City to have one permanent People’s School. “The target is that one People’s School will be inhabited by 1,080 people, covering elementary, middle and high school levels in stages. There are already elementary and middle schools here, so in the new academic year the hope is that high school levels will start to be available,” he explained.

Furthermore, he emphasized that the Ministry of Social Affairs is currently working on an implementation scheme for the 2026-2027 academic year with related parties, including the Ombudsman.

“This is done so that the integrated school pattern implemented in Cirebon City can have a strong regulatory and budgeting basis so that it can be replicated in other areas with the same standards,” he concluded. ***