Indonesia, Jan. 12 -- Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf reaffirmed the government's commitment to uplifting children from poor families through education while delivering a speech at the inauguration of a pilot Sekolah Rakyat in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, on Monday.

Speaking before President Prabowo Subianto, Yusuf requested the President to officially inaugurate the Sekolah Rakyat Program, which has been established at 166 locations across Indonesia.

"I consider this a historic moment. We want this idea to be remembered as a historical event," Yusuf said in a trembling voice.

Sekolah Rakyat is designed to ensure that children who have long been marginalized in development can stand on equal footing with others in national lif...