Acehnese students feeling at home in Yogyakarta

Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

After being out of school since the Dec. 26 tsunami, some 76 Acehnese students have returned to the classroom, only in Yogyakarta.

Beginning this week, about 76 vocational school students from Aceh began a six-month internship program at four vocational schools in Yogyakarta -- SMKN I, SMKN IV, SMKN V and SMK III Muhammadiyah.

The head of the Yogyakarta Education and Teaching Office, Darno, said the internship program was part of the Ministry of National Education's efforts to help rebuild Aceh following the tsunami.

A total of 588 students will take part in the program in six provinces.

Darno said that during the six-month program, the Acehnese students would be expected to do the same work as other students. The only difference is that they will also receive counseling to help them come to terms with the tsunami disaster.

"The Acehnese students will be placed in dormitories and Islamic boarding schools in Yogyakarta. But we will leave the details to the respective schools," he said.

SMKN V principal Sugeng Sumiyoto told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday the Acehnese students had suffered a tremendous trauma, which meant lessons had to be adjusted to meet their needs.

The school, he said, had trained 12 teachers to handle the special needs of the Acehnese students.

"We have discussed their situation and made special preparations so the teachers understand the students' situation. Also, they have received little if any instruction since their schools and teachers were lost in the tsunami," he said, adding that his school had taken in 29 Acehnese students -- 25 boys and four girls.

He said that because the students were behind in their lessons, they were placed in special classrooms and given special lessons tailored to where they were at in their educations.

"The tests for the Acehnese students will also be special, using different materials. If other students have their exams in May, the Acehnese students will have their exams in June," Sugeng said.

The Acehnese said they were happy with the instruction they were receiving in Yogyakarta.

"The teachers here teach us in a relaxed manner, sometimes with humor, so we do not get stressed," said Feri Rizki, 18, a student from SMKN II in Banda Aceh.

Feri said at first he felt inferior because he had missed so much school since the tsunami.

"When I first got here, I felt inferior because we had been out of school for months, missing out on many subjects. I had thought we would be put in the same classroom with other students, but it turns out we have our own class," he said.

Each Acehnese student taking part in the program receives a monthly allowance of Rp 100,000, as well as Rp 300,000 for dormitory and meals, and Rp 100,000 for their school fees.

Another student, Fakhrur Razy, praised the teaching methods and facilities at his new school.

He said the only problem was the language. He said some teachers had trouble understanding the Acehnese accent. "But we just need a couple of days to adjust."