School health checks find 3.6 million students with cavities
The government aims to expand the program to 50.25 million students in 303,263 schools in 2026.
Free school health screenings found dental caries to be the most common problem among students. Of 8,824,185 students checked at 96,567 schools in 511 regencies and cities from Jan. 1 to July 14, 2026, about 40.8 percent, or 3.6 million students, had cavities. Data from Badan Komunikasi Pemerintah also showed 27.3 percent of adolescent girls, or 2.4 million people, had anemia, while 21.7 percent, or 1.91 million students, were recorded with elevated blood pressure. Other findings included obesity in 6.7 percent of students and impacted earwax in 6 percent. The free school health check program began nationwide on Aug. 4, 2025, and targets children ages 7-17, including elementary, middle and high school students, special-needs students and santri at Islamic boarding schools.