Erick Thohir: People's Schools, President's Popular Vision to Create Educational Justice

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — SOE Minister Erick Thohir expressed his full support for the People's School program promoted by President Prabowo Subianto. In a statement laden with emotion and personal reflection, Erick called the program not just education, but a concrete struggle to break the chain of poverty and structural stupidity in Indonesia.

“I believe education is the foundation for the betterment of the individual as well as the nation. And I believe in the great vision of Mr. President Prabowo Subianto,” Erick said in a conversation with Republika in Jakarta on Friday (1/8/2025).

According to Erick, the People's School reflects President Prabowo's commitment to bring educational justice to the lowest strata of society. He said that since the campaign, President Prabowo has shown a strong and consistent vision of the people to build the whole Indonesian people through education.

Erick insists that the President's determination in improving the world of education is serious. He claimed to be moved when he heard directly from the President that the program was not just an educational project, but a struggle.

“I was moved when Mr President said, 'Mr Erick, this is not just education, this is a struggle. We have to be present below. The poor must not continue to be poor and stupid,” Erick said.

He added that President Prabowo wanted to prove that access to education should be enjoyed by all Indonesians, without exception. Erick claimed to be touched by the President's earnestness in realizing educational fairness for the nation's children.

Erick also recounts his modest family background. His father, the late Haji Muhammad Teddy Thohir, migrated from Mount Sugih, Lampung, from the age of 9—10 to pursue education in Bandar Lampung, then continued on to Java Island. According to Erick, the father always emphasized the importance of education.

“It's very sentimental for me. In line with my family's story, albeit in a different context. Thohir's family used to be a poor family. I see this People's School will open up new opportunities for anyone in the country,” the former Inter Milan president continued.

Erick mentioned that the government is now building many People's Schools with facilities equivalent to boarding schools, Internet access, and supported by the best teachers. The program is believed to be one of the concrete steps in reducing dropout rates and keeping children out of poverty traps.

“This is what I see Mr. President wanting to fix, one of them is building an educational ecosystem through the People's Schools,” he said.