Night school provides escape for young maids

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

One would not have guessed that Indri was a domestic worker while watching her fingers dancing across a computer keyboard.

Computers have become the 16-year-old's latest recreation these last four months as she takes a free course at a school for domestic workers only a 10-minute walk from the house at which she works.

"I have seen my employer's computer, but of course I never touch it," said the girl, who has been working for a family in Pamulang, Tangerang, for a year. "It (using a computer) is not as difficult as I imagined. But the commands are all in English. I have to constantly ask my tutor for help."

Indri and some 19 other teenage domestic workers receive not only computer tutorials at Griya Rumpun School; they also study all the basic subjects taught in general schools. The school is operated from two small adjoining houses in the Alam Asri housing complex.

The school was initiated in 2000 by non-governmental organization Rumpun Gema Perempuan with funding from the International Labor Organization (ILO). There were similar schools in housing complexes in Depok, Parung, Kemuning and Pondok Cabe.

It is part of a program to empower domestic workers, especially those who are still school age.

Currently there are almost 700,000 child domestic workers nationwide. Most of them entered the workforce when they were just 11 or 12 years old, many not even finishing elementary school.

Eight teachers in Griya Rumpun prepare the domestic workers to take junior high school and high school equality exams known as Kejar Paket B and Kejar Paket C, similar to many night schools in the capital.

In addition, computer and English classes are conducted twice a week.

The school also provides domestic courses like cooking and handicrafts, aside from holding monthly discussions to make the teenagers aware of their rights as workers. The young teens also issue a bimonthly bulletin in which they can express themselves through writing.

"We study everyday -- except on Sunday -- from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.," said Umi Munawaroh, a part-time domestic worker who helps at the school. "I took the Paket C exam recently, but I failed."

Umi said that it was very difficult to concentrate on classes because she was already tired from doing her daily work.

Unlike normal school children, these students are allowed to be late and skip classes. "My employer often tells me to do more work just before I have to leave for class," said 19-year old Sofia from Medan who has been working for two years for a family in a nearby complex.

Convincing employers has been the most difficult part of the process.

"We often have to visit employers several times to explain what the program is all about and convince them to allow their workers to study here," said Umi who helps workers negotiate with their employers.

Umi explained that most employers imposed conditions before allowing their workers to spend almost three hours a day at the school. "My boss only lets me out three times a week," said Sofia, regretting that she could not take the computer lessons.

And when her class finished at 10 p.m, she had to walk home to a pile of dishes that she had to clear before going to sleep. (003)