Free community schools help disadvantaged young people

Free community schools help disadvantaged young people

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

More than 50 children ranging from 10 to 18 years old were
listening attentively to their teachers on a quiet afternoon.

Unlike regular students, they wore no uniforms and sat at ease
on the terrace of a mosque behind the bus terminal in Depok, some
one hour's drive from the capital.

"I found out about the school when I was still a street vendor
here," said 16-year-old Sani, who dropped out of school after
finishing elementary school. He is now preparing to take the
final junior high school exams.

The free school was initiated by a businessman in 2002.

"It all started when I opened my food stall here and the
children who worked as street musicians and vendors started to
drop by," said Nur Rohim, 35.

Not prepared to rely on the government's "education for all"
promises, some individuals in local communities have started
schools for poor students and drop-outs.

"We want to provide the chance for those who are economically
marginalized to have equal opportunities to develop themselves
(through education)," said Moch. Firdaus, the co-founder of
Yayasan Remaja Masa Depan, another free school occupying a house
in Gudang Peluru, South Jakarta.

The area was chosen considering the large number of school
dropouts in neighboring Bukit Duri and Manggarai district.
Currently, it educates some 200 students ranging from 13 to 18.

In addition to providing free education to prepare students to
sit the national examinations, the school also provides
vocational training to third grade high school students.

"It adds to their skills and increases their chances of
getting jobs," Firdaus explained, adding that most of the 100
graduates to date had found employment.

"If we can't force the government to provide education for
all, we had better act on our own and set an example," Firdaus
explained.

Data from the 2002 social census shows that there are 250,000
school-age dropouts in Jakarta, most of whom have been forced to
leave school for financial reasons.

No action has been taken by the government to keep the
children on at school. It was just in June that the government
officially announced the start of free nine-year compulsory
education.

For Nur Rohim and Firdaus, setting up a community school only
needs a vacant space and some volunteers to start with.

"But, it requires consistency as we cannot stop once we start
giving the children hope of being able to continue their
education.

"We have to treat them differently as psychologically they
are different from normal children," said Nur Rohim, adding that
at first he had to "bribe" the children to attend classes.

He explained that individuals or organizations having a
minimum of 15 children attending a school can have their community
school recognized. "However, it is more important that we really
prepare the children with the skills they need to be independent
rather than concentrating on mere school certificates."

Rohim added that each area with a large number of school dropouts
should have at least one free school. "One in every station,
market and slum area," he said.

I-box

Selected free schools in Jakarta:

1. Sanggar Akar Ciliwung in Bukit Duri, South Jakarta
2. Yayasan Remaja Masa Depan in Gudang Peluru, South Jakarta
3. Sekolah Ibu Kembar in Teluk Gong, North Jakarta
4. Teknik Informal School in Kampung Lio, Depok
5. Yayasan Bina Insan Mandiri in Depok Terminal
6. Informal School in Ciputat, Tangerang