Sofyan Tan, doctor who works for education

Sofyan Tan, doctor who works for education

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta PostMedan

He is probably one of a few graduates, among the millions that hold a degree in medicine, who has veered away from the noble profession of general practitioner.

45-years-old Sofyan Tan still restores people to good condition, but he prefers to combat social ills rather than physical ailments. Few are aware that Sofyan is the founder of the popular Perguruan Iskandar Muda (Iskandar Muda School) in Medan.

After receiving his degree in 1990, Sofyan decided that he would not open up a clinic, nor would he work in a hospital.

"Actually, to be a doctor is a nice job as you can earn a lot. But, I prefer to cure social ills, a kind of specialization that you are not taught in medical school," said Sofyan, who is the father of four.

He said that he had devoted himself to education as he had found many policies on education failed to empower the community.

"Many policies are not consistent with the message of the 1945 Constitution. The government is yet to bear full responsibility for the education of all children. Besides which, its budget policy does not prioritize education. Education is the spearhead of the development of our nation, and the spearhead must always be sharp," he said.

Sixteen years ago, Sofyan dreamed of establishing a school on the outskirts of Medan, an area dominated by poor residents. Many scoffed at the idea, including members of his own family. They thought it strange that Sofyan, a Chinese-Indonesian and a medical graduate, would want to set up a school for poor children.

However, Sofyan was persistent and turned a deaf ear to such cynical remarks. Thanks to the assistance of locals, the school has been constructed in Medan Sunggai district.

Inspired by a prominent hero Sultan Iskandar Muda from Aceh, Sofyan has named the school Perguruan Sultan Iskandar Muda. Today, the school boasts thousands of students. They come from both poor and rich families, have different religious faiths (Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism), and are of various ethnic origins.

"If your intention is good, there will always be a way. If we want to help the poor, it does not necessarily mean we must squander all our money and go broke helping them. What matters most is the idea. This school couldn't have been built in the ab sence of an idea. I have set up this school on the basis of a cross-subsidy principle," he said, when The Jakarta Post inter viewed him at his residence.

He said the cross-subsidy program he adopted for the school was called the Chain Adopted Children's Program on a Cross- Subsidy Basis.

The program had been implemented since 1990, he said, adding that a number of figures and entrepreneurs had donated to the program. Among those figures are former minister Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, former state secretary Moerdiono, and former president BJ Habibie.

The school was built with capital of Rp 60 million, but its annual turnover today is Rp 3 billion.

Sofyan said that the mission of the school was to build solidarity among poor children and help them to enjoy education.

"I've found that many of our students are clever but cannot afford to go to school. We keep them at school because these children have the right to an education. It is for this purpose that this school has been set up," he said.

In recognition of Sofyan's achievements, he received in 1989 the academic honor of "Fellow Ashoka for Ethnic Relations and Education" in the category of Ashoka Innovators for the Public in Washington, D.C.

A year later he was named a pioneer youth for development in social solidarity by the then ministry of youth and sports. Then, in 2002, he was awarded the Wiyata Mandala for Sumatra Province by North Sumatra Governor Rizal Nurdin.

The youngest of 10 siblings, Sofyan was born to he a modest family. He remembers living in a house with a "frequently leaking thatched roof" somewhere in Medan Sunggal.

His father was a tailor and ran a grocery shop but later he was declared bankrupt. Much of the money went on the education of his children. Despite the family's financial condition, Sofyan went to the Indonesian Methodist University in Medan. To make ends meet, he also tutored senior high school students.

Now that he can finally enjoy the fruits of his labor, Sofyan shows no signs of slowing down. He is enjoying a simple life and staying true to his values.