TVRI Initiates Broadcasting Skills Training at Bantul People's School to Support Marginal Youth Creative Economy

An innovative partnership in Indonesian progressive education was marked by the intensive broadcasting industry training organized for students of Sekolah Rakyat Menengah Atas (SRMA) 19 in Sonosewu, Bantul, Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY). This event, part of the strategic program of the Public Broadcasting Institution (LPP) TVRI, took place on December 5, 2025, underscoring a mutual commitment to equitable opportunity.

The program, titled “TVRI Mengajar, Melayani Negeri” (TVRI Teaches, Serves the Nation), aims to equalize opportunities for youth from marginalized groups to engage in the creative economy sector, such as broadcasting, according to LPP TVRI President Director Iman Brotoseno. Brotoseno, also a filmmaker and former contributor to National Geographic Indonesia, emphasized that TVRI seeks to break the cycle of poverty through quality education oriented toward future skills.

The training covered fundamental aspects of the industry, including presentation techniques, video shooting, and image editing processes, skills previously considered remote possibilities for the SR students. As concrete support for this initiative, TVRI Yogyakarta Station symbolically delivered hardware assistance to SRMA 19. This aid included a set of computers for editing, professional cameras, and tripods, intended to allow students to further develop their abilities in film and broadcasting.

Sekolah Rakyat, including SRMA 19 which began operations on July 14, 2025, is a national program initiated by President Prabowo Subianto, focusing on providing free boarding education for children from extremely poor families (deciles 1 and 2). SRMA 19 in Bantul currently accommodates 200 students, with a curriculum integrating character, religious, and technology education, including early exposure to coding instruction.

The Head of SRMA 19, Agus Ristanto, confirmed high student enthusiasm, leading to the decision to elevate this specific broadcasting training to a routine weekly extracurricular activity starting the next semester. This aligns with the vision of Sekolah Rakyat, which prioritizes character development and discipline alongside academic achievement, supported by cooperation with the TNI and Tagana.

This partnership between TVRI and Sekolah Rakyat reflects cross-sector support for President Prabowo’s priority program in educational equity and community empowerment, specifically by opening pathways into the creative industry. The Minister of Creative Economy has affirmed that Sekolah Rakyat represents a tangible realization of equitable access to quality education, which must advance alongside creativity to cultivate an independent human resource base adaptive to new opportunities in the creative economy.