This article reveals an interesting piece of history about Indonesia’s president-elect for 2024-2029, Prabowo Subianto, who played a key role in founding SMA Taruna Nusantara, one of the country’s top high schools. Dirgayuza Setiawan, the son of Dr. Boyke Setiawan, a close confidant of Prabowo, recently shared a proposal co-written by Prabowo and his father in 1988 for the establishment of the school. The proposal, which had been stored in Dr. Boyke’s personal archives, was submitted to the Minister of Defense and Security and the president at the time.
The foreword of the proposal explains that the motivation behind establishing SMA Taruna Nusantara was a sense of duty to contribute to the nation’s development and post-independence progress. The proposal emphasized the importance of education, especially in science and technology, as a key way to build the nation. It highlighted Indonesia’s rich resources and talented youth, stressing the need to provide them with the right education to develop their skills for the country’s future.
Dirgayuza also shared that the initials “PS” and “BS” in the document referred to Prabowo Subianto and Boyke Setiawan, respectively. Dirgayuza, known for editing Prabowo’s books, and his father, a retired TNI officer and former advisor to Prabowo, have been closely involved in education and other endeavors.
Overall, this story sheds light on Prabowo Subianto’s contribution to education and nation-building through the founding of SMA Taruna Nusantara, showcasing his dedication to Indonesia’s development.
