Gunung Kidul youths get help from GEP

By Israr Ardiansyah

YOGYAKARTA (JP): For Indonesian lawmakers, a seat in the legislature means one step away from fortune and fame. But for elementary students in the parched Ngawen district, Gunung Kidul, some 50 kilometers east of here, a seat means education.

The 262 students of the SDN Bendo state elementary school have to share a total of 50 benches, meaning roughly three students to every bench.

"A school bench of that size normally seats two students, but we use it for three. Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to accommodate all the students," principal Supangat said.

These poor conditions have attracted the attention of the renowned Global Education Partnership (GEP), locally known as Mitra Pendidikan Global. It officially signed an agreement with the school on Aug. 3 for the provision of more benches.

GEP Indonesia director, Totok S. Wiryasaputra, said all the students' parents had thrown their weight behind the idea.

"After a series of discussions with the Parents' Association, we concluded that we must provide the school with new benches," he said, adding that the total budget needed was Rp 12 million (US$1,350).

Under the agreement, the association will provide 50 percent of the budget while GEP and the United States-based company General Electric's GE Fund will provide the rest.

This is only one of the programs developed by GEP's Educational Resources Development Program (ERDP) over the last two years. The ERDP has worked together with 149 schools to help their students.

"It's good to see that parents in the low-income districts can provide 50 percent of the total funds to be used to buy books, desks and other basic school equipment," said the ERDP director Wuri Hartono.

"The parents determine the goals and budgets, making each project a true partnership with GEP's donors."

What is surprising is that the parents could collect US$19,000. "It's an enormous sacrifice as most farmers only earn less than $20 per month."

One of the parents, 33-year-old Kardi said he contributed Rp 30,000 to his son's school.

"I'm a teacher myself and I do believe that only educated persons will be able to compete in this modern era. That's why I have to do my best for my son regardless of the fact that we are poor."

Kardi has been regarded for his hard work. His son Yuli Ardhika Prihatama, who studies at SDN Bendo, was recently elected a model student for the regency and will soon represent Gunung Kidul in a similar contest at the provincial level.

"I hope he'll become a great man someday who will be of benefit to the community."

Totok said that increasing numbers of students were becoming more and more aware of the importance of education since GEP's presence in the regency started in February 1999, although it only commenced its operations five months later.

"We just want to help improve Gunung Kidul residents' competitive advantages, specially those of the youngsters. I'm really surprised to see their enthusiasm."

Beside the ERDP, GEP also has an Entrepreneurship and Employment Training Program (EETP) and a Teachers and Students Development Program (TSDP) in the regency.

The ERDP itself has so far provided educational equipment to 15,865 students in rural areas in Gunung Kidul.

"The schools that have joined our programs are already showing indications that the programs really improve the students' competitive advantages," Totok said, adding that a student in Panggang District, whose school joined the ERDP, achieved the highest marks for the national exams in school year 2000/2001 in the district.

"It allowed him to study at the best junior high school here."

The EETP is aimed at improving the skills of youths from low- income families. "We have 103 youths who have already graduated from this program," Totok said.

The EETP's three-month course introduces 17 to 23-year-old students to the business world. The course includes practical training on writing resumes, job applications and presentation in a professional manner.

The TSDP former director Sri Lestari Yuniarti said most youths in the district have gained advantages from using the GEP facilities, including the office, classrooms, library and computer laboratory.

"Our computer laboratory, which opened in October 2000, has been a place (to study) for many youngsters who could not to go to university for financial reasons. By mastering computer skills, they need not worry about competing in the job market," she said.

Totok said only Gunung Kidul people themselves could change the regency's stereotype as a poor area lacking in human resources.

"We just want to make them realize that there's so many things to develop. It's time for them to get over the sad stories and move forward with improving human resources for the future."