Ricky and Radja No Longer Go Home from School When It's Almost Dark

Kupang (ANTARA) - The changes they feel may seem simple. Ricky and Radja, two sixth-grade students at SD Inpres Naimata in Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara, walked to their classroom with cheerful faces. There was no more anxiety about waiting for their turn to enter school in the afternoon or even evening. For them, school now feels like a new place. The classroom walls stand sturdy with clean paint. The roof no longer leaks when it rains. The study room is brighter, the air ventilation is better, and the schoolyard looks tidier. These changes came after SD Inpres Naimata received assistance through the Education Revitalisation Programme, one of President Prabowo Subianto’s priority programmes to improve educational facilities in various regions. However, the new building is only the visible part. What is more meaningful for Ricky and Radja is the change in how they experience their day as students. “We used to take turns because there weren’t enough classrooms,” Ricky said. For years, limited space forced the school to implement a shift system. Some students studied in the morning, while others only started at noon or in the afternoon. On some days, teaching and learning activities only ended as the sun was setting. For children their age, this condition was not easy. When they had an afternoon schedule, they had to wait for hours at home before leaving for school. When the schedule was in the late afternoon, fatigue often set in before their enthusiasm for learning. “Sometimes I’d get sleepy in class,” Radja said with a shy smile. Going home from school was also a challenge. While friends at other schools were already playing or studying at home, Ricky and Radja were still sitting in class. When the school bell finally rang, the sky was already getting dark. Once home, time to rest or do homework was very limited. Their parents also often worried when the children had to return home close to nightfall. Now, that story is just a memory. With the additional classrooms from the revitalisation programme, all students are back to studying at the same time in the morning. There is no more shift division. The school atmosphere has also changed. Teachers can organise learning more effectively. The children are fresher in following lessons because they study in the morning. After school, they still have plenty of time to play, help their parents, or review lessons at home. For Ricky, this change has made it easier to concentrate. “In the morning, the body is still fresh, so I’m more enthusiastic about learning,” he said. No more worries.