Before I was becoming Pengajar Muda Indonesia Mengajar myself, I once read earlier PM's writing about Doro Le'de filial (kelas jauh). In some remote area of Indonesia, school has "kelas jauh" concept where teachers come to a far settlement rather than ask students go to school because of the distance. The concept was amazingly brilliant, but sometimes the executions doesn't work that way. In Doro Le'de, Desa Labuhan Kananga, Kecamatan Tambora, Kabupaten Bima, the teachers come 2-3 times a week in average.
The earlier PM's writing tells that she was not recommended by the people to go to Doro Le'de because of safety reason. But from time to time, PM who lived at Labuhan Kananga, main area of Tambora Sub-District, always go to Doro Le'de filial once a week, beside the duty of teaching in SD N 01 Labuhan Kananga.
That day was end of the semester. My school is off already because the final exam was over. So I and some of Pengajar Muda Bima was going along with Arum, Pengajar Muda of Labuhan Kananga to Doro Le'de filial.
From Labuhan Kananga, it took us about 25 minutes uphill road motorcycle ride. There is Jambu Mete field and forest everywhere on the roadside. When I asked Arum about the settlement, she said that it is far away downhill or uphill, so the students need to take 30-60 minutes walk to school from home. Even they don't know if the teacher is coming or not, they come to school every day with the hope and spirit to learn. The thing's kind of remind me of my own student once I wrote here.
 |
| view from the uphill road: the settlement above is Desa Labuhan Kananga and on the left is the well-known Satonda island |
when we arrived, the students were ready. The classroom was cleaned, even their sandals were put orderly outside.
 |
| The right settlement is where Arum stay 2 days in a week to teach student in Doro Le'de |
Maybe it just a sandals where you can easily buy at the market for 10000 rupiahs. But for me, that colorful things are a symbol. Symbol of Struggle (30 until 60 minutes walk to school where you don't know if there is a teacher come), symbol of Never Ending Spirits (when those little pairs are put orderly in front of the cleaned classroom, ready to study), and symbol of love (you come after a long way uphill, saw that sandals in front of the door, and the little owners will come in a second and greet you "Ibu! Waah! Ibu Guru is come already!", "Ibu, the classroom is cleaned, come, let's start the lesson!"
People said that we, as Pengajar Muda, have extraordinary passion to teach in remote area, to dedicating one year for the country. Maybe yes, we have the extraordinary passion. But the one I know definitely, the learning spirit of our students is unbelievable.
versi Bahasa Indonesia dari tulisan ini dapat dibaca di blog Pengajar Muda Indonesia Mengajar
0 comments