Spirit of learning persists despite educational facility limitations
Jember, East Java — One by one, students of SDN 1 Sumberanget Primary School in the Ledokombo District, Jember Regency, East Java, remove their shoes and enter the musala in an orderly fashion, sitting cross-legged and maintaining distance from one another due to the cramped conditions.
They are not there for prayer or Quranic recitation, but are preparing to learn with their teachers because the classrooms intended for teaching and learning activities (K-12) have suffered heavy damage and are currently undergoing repairs.
In this emergency situation, sitting on the floor without desks and occasionally wiping away perspiration, students remain enthusiastic about learning in three nearby musalas. This arrangement is necessary as teaching activities must continue while the Jember Regency Education Office carries out the school repairs.
An Islamic Education teacher at the school, Ardhiana Yuni Musthofa, stated that the learning process can still proceed concondively and without significant obstacles, despite the limited and cramped space of the musalas.
To optimise the use of the prayer rooms, the school utilises three different musalas located near SDN 1 Sumberanget, using them in rotation for students from Year 1 to Year 6 based on a scheduled timetable.
To manage the limited capacity, the school has implemented a split-session system. Lower primary students (Years 1, 2, and 3) attend the morning session from 07:00 to 09:30 WIB, while upper primary students (Years 4, 5, and 6) attend the second session from 09:30 to 12:00 WIB.
Despite the physical limitations, the students’ enthusiasm remains high. Debi Veronika Aisyah, a Year 6 student, noted that the cramped space makes it difficult to move and requires students to hunch over while writing on the floor without folding desks.
Nevertheless, she expressed happiness at being able to continue learning with her peers, citing the sense of togetherness as a primary reason for enjoying the process. Before the move to the musalas, the school building was in a distressing state. Debi recalled that the classrooms suffered from severe damage, particularly to the roofs and walls.
“There were leaks whenever it rained. Not only did the roofs leak heavily during heavy rain, but the classroom walls also had many holes,” Debi recalled.
Debi and her fellow students hope that the repairs to the classrooms and educational facilities will be completed as soon as possible so they can study in comfort.
School Renovation
The SDN 1 Sumberanget building is currently undergoing a comprehensive physical repair programme after long being in a deplorable condition. The project, costing approximately Rp1.5 billion, includes the renovation of classrooms, the library, sanitation facilities, environmental landscaping, and the provision of school furniture.
The Acting Head of SDN 1 Sumberanget, Desi Ratna Sulistyowati, expressed her gratitude for the renovation, noting that the physical condition of the building was previously very worrying, especially the decayed and severely damaged roofs.
The school had previously attempted self-managed repairs alongside the parents’ association. Parents worked together voluntarily to fix the roofs to prevent danger, but due to limited funds, the results were minimal, and ceilings had to be completely removed.
In addition to classrooms, the repairs also target school sanitation. Previously, the school had only one limited toilet facility, consisting of one male and one female cubicle, which was also built through community self-funding. Through this project, the school will receive three new toilet units for male students, female students, and teaching staff.
The school revitalisation project covers several essential facilities, including classroom renovations (both full renovations and roof repairs), library improvements, the construction of a school health unit (UKS), and sanitation facilities at three different locations.
During the construction period, which is targeted to last 100 days (approximately three months) starting from late August, teaching and learning activities have not been suspended. The school has coordinated with the committee and local community leaders to borrow three nearby musalas as temporary learning spaces.
Currently, SDN 1 Sumberanget has 84 students and 10 teachers. It is hoped that the completion of these facilities will trigger an increase in learning quality and restore community confidence in enrolling their children in a proper and well-maintained school.