Primary School Children Risk Their Lives on Bamboo Rafts to Attend School
The struggle of pupils at SDN Budiharja in Budiharja Village, Cililin District, West Bandung Regency, West Java, to pursue their education is no small matter. They must risk their lives crossing the waters of the Saguling Reservoir using a bamboo raft in order to attend school.
On Thursday afternoon (28/8/2026), after school had finished, a number of pupils made their way along a footpath towards the edge of the Saguling Reservoir, whose water level had receded due to the dry season. There, a weathered bamboo raft was waiting to take them home to Kampung Sadang, RT 05, RW 02, Budiharja Village, from SDN Budiharja, which is located in Kampung Gombong, RT 03, RW 05, Budiharja Village.
A middle-aged man was already on the raft, ready to ferry the children across voluntarily. Using a length of rope stretched from Kampung Sadang to Kampung Gombong, the raft was hauled across. Meanwhile, the pupils sat quietly under the blazing midday sun.
“I started taking the raft almost every day from Year 4 because it is just faster from home to school,” said Imam Permana, aged 12, one of the pupils.
Every school day, just after 6 a.m., Imam and his friends leave home and head to the edge of the Saguling Reservoir. The pupils choose to cross the reservoir by raft because it is more efficient and quicker, as they must be at school by 6.30 a.m.
The distance from the settlement to the school is only about 248 metres. By land, however, the journey requires a detour of around 2.28 kilometres. Laughter and chatter are constant companions as they ride the bamboo raft to and from school.
“Taking the detour is quite far, and I have done it since Year 1. But now I use the raft because it is faster. I am not afraid because I am used to it,” said Imam.
The presence of the bamboo raft is deeply appreciated by Santi Nur Setiani, a parent. The traditional water transport, made of bamboo, takes her child to and from school every day so that she can receive an education at a state school.
“Usually they leave home just after 6 a.m. Taking the detour is a long way, and we do not have a motorbike either. So coming this way is faster,” she said.
Santi is understandably anxious when seeing her second child off and waiting for her return from SDN Budiharja. The water her child must cross on the bamboo raft is certainly quite deep. Her hope is that one day a bridge will be built connecting her village with the school.
“Yes, I worry about her slipping. During the rainy season, she likes to mess around and joke with her friends on the raft. I would really like there to be a bridge,” said Santi.