Makassar, Oct. 28 -- Some 1,000 prospective students of the Sekolah Rakyat (People's School) program are currently undergoing what the government describes as a rehabilitation process, which includes equivalency education, before entering formal schooling under the tuition-free program.

Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf said in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Wednesday that Sekolah Rakyat is expected to reach 45,000 children from underprivileged families by this year, with around 44,000 already enrolled.

"Meanwhile, the other 1,000 are currently undergoing a rehabilitation process at the Social Affairs Ministry's centers, whose buildings have also been designated as pilot facilities for Sekolah Rakyat," he remarked.

Yusuf emphasized...