Singaraja values meaning of education<\/p>\n
SINGARAJA, North Bali (JP): Singaraja, the capital city of
\nBuleleng regency, is far from the bustling tourist and cultural
\nglitter of South Bali.<\/p>\n
Located 80 kilometers of Denpasar, Singaraja is a perfect
\nplace for school students. No traffic jams, no student brawls,
\nalmost no entertainment centers to disturb the youth or shopping
\nmalls for them to hang out in during the afternoon.<\/p>\n
The city has wide roads canopied with old shady trees, and
\nlines of big houses showcasing beautiful and elegant Dutch and
\nChinese architectural styles. This small town was once Bali's
\ncapital and famous as a melting pot for many different ethnic
\ngroups -- Balinese, Arab, Chinese, Buginese and Madurese. It also
\nhas colonial mansions, enigmatic royal palaces and other
\nhistorical buildings.<\/p>\n
Bali's old export and import commodities were shipped from
\nSingaraja harbor, which is now in a dilapidated condition.<\/p>\n
I Nyoman Mustika Suyasa, school principal of SMP I junior
\nschool, said Singaraja was once Bali's education center. \"The
\nfirst school in Bali was built here in Buleleng regency,\" Nyoman
\nrecalled.<\/p>\n
His school, SMP I on Jl. Gajah Mada, was Bali's first
\nHollandsch Inlandsche School (HIS elementary school for locals).<\/p>\n
\"All the wealthy in Bali sent their children to Singaraja to
\nattend school here because there was no other education
\ninstitution in other parts of the island,\" Nyoman remembered.<\/p>\n
Even students from Madura island and East Java cities like
\nSurabaya, Malang, Jember, Ponorogo and Banyuwangi as well as from
\nWest Nusa Tenggara flocked to Singaraja to pursue their
\neducation.<\/p>\n
\"Most of the present Balinese government officials, noted
\nscholars and businessmen graduated from Singaraja schools,\" he
\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Singaraja became the first city in Bali with junior and senior
\nhigh schools and the state Udayana University. It was also the
\ncenter for commerce, government and culture.<\/p>\n
The city ceased to function as the capital in 1960 with the
\ngovernment's designation of Denpasar.<\/p>\n
I Made Sudjana, principal of SMA I high school on Jl. Veteran,
\nsaid Singaraja had since drastically changed from a dynamic city
\ninto a deserted one with few businesses, education and cultural
\nactivities. Udayana University was also moved to Denpasar.<\/p>\n
Located on the other side of Batur mountain from the northern
\nroutes from Denpasar, Singaraja is quite difficult to reach and
\ntherefore was isolated from the tourist influx into south Bali.<\/p>\n
Blessing<\/p>\n
\"Denpasar is like other big cities such as Surabaya (East
\nJava) and Jakarta, but Singaraja remains untouched by all that
\nglitters. But, it is a blessing in disguise,\" said Sudjana.<\/p>\n
Compared to their counterparts in Jakarta, Singaraja 's
\nstudents are lucky, he said. They do not have to chase public
\ntransportation, do not become trapped in traffic jams and there
\nare no brawls like those experienced by Jakarta students.<\/p>\n
\"We try to create a pleasant atmosphere in our schools with
\nvarious extracurricular activities such as science clubs, scouts,
\nsports and cultural programs,\" said Sudjana.<\/p>\n
There are several new private schools in the city, including
\nLabschool, belonging to the Singaraja's Teachers's College and
\nthe Mutiara school. Singaraja also has a teacher's college and a
\ntourism college.<\/p>\n
\"We can't say that our students are immune to any distraction
\nlike drugs and fights. But we try hard to occupy their time with
\npositive activities,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Each junior and high school in the city strives to arrange
\nmany interesting programs for their students.<\/p>\n
SMA I high school boasts its science club. \"We won so many
\ncompetitions at both provincial and national levels,\" Sudjana
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
SMP I is proud to have a solid marching band and creative
\njournalistic and English clubs. \"Our marching band was invited to
\nattend the World Marching Band Competition in Melbourne,
\nAustralia, but we didn't have enough funds to attend the event,\"
\nprincipal Nyoman asserted.<\/p>\n
To make all programs work well, the schools need funding.<\/p>\n
\"This is a classic problem -- the lack of money and facilities
\n-- but that is the reality because we are in a small town and the
\nregional government provides a meager subsidy,\" Sudjana said.<\/p>\n
\"To conduct a scientific study, a student may spend quite a
\nlot of money and we really don't have money to support them. The
\nsolution is through raising funds from parents and the
\ncommunity.\"<\/p>\n
To send students to attend the National Science Contest, SMA I
\nhad to raise money from parents.<\/p>\n
\"Many schools here are reluctant to participate in national
\ncontests in Jakarta because they were afraid they wouldn't be
\nable to afford transportation and accommodation fees,\" a teacher
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
It would be helpful if the regional government and local
\ncommunity supported academic activities, he said.<\/p>\n
Sofar Silaen, head of the young scientists contest at the
\nIndonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) in Jakarta, explained
\nthat LIPI will help obtain sponsors to accommodate students from
\noutside Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"It is encouraging to see students in small towns like
\nSingaraja and other areas in Indonesia participate in science
\ncontests.\"<\/p>\n
He added he would not be surprised to see Singaraja students
\nwin the contest because they were active in science project
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
Finalists of this year's LIPI science contest came from Irian
\nJaya, East Java, South Maluku and East Kalimantan. \"I wonder why
\nthere were no finalists from Jakarta where there are so many good
\nschools,\" Sofar said.<\/p>\n
Nyoman said he hoped the government and other interested
\nparties would provide more support, such as scholarships for
\ntalented students and laboratory facilities. Otherwise, he
\nfeared, their talent would be wasted. (raw)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/singaraja-values-meaning-of-education-1447893297",
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