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