Jakarta, March 11 -- Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, has said that madrasahs (Islamic schools) are suitable for operating as Sekolah Rakyat (free public schools), adding there is no need to look for new forms of schools.

"Actually, we don't need to look for a new form. Madrasahs are very proper to become Sekolah Rakyat because they already exist in the community," he added in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He made the remarks during the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Social Affairs to make the Sekolah Rakyat program and poverty alleviation a success.

The Sekolah Rakyat initiative has been launched by President Prabowo Subianto to make education accessibl...