The Figure of I Gusti Ayu Rapeg, the Female Education Advocate from Bali

Most people are already familiar with the names of several national education figures such as Ki Hadjar Dewantara, RA Kartini, and Dewi Sartika. In addition to those names, there is I Gusti Ayu Rapeg, who may still be unfamiliar to many.

I Gusti Ayu Rapeg was a woman from Bali who dedicated herself to advocating for women’s education. She founded a modern women’s movement organisation called Putri Bali Sadar to improve the dignity of women.

Here is an overview of the figure of I Gusti Ayu Rapeg and her struggles in the field of education in Indonesia, as compiled by detikBali:

Early Life of Gusti Ayu Rapeg

Gusti Ayu Rapeg was born in Denpasar on 11 May 1917. She was born into a family with a respected social status. Her father, I Gusti Putu Gede Reta, was a skilled craftsman and great artist in Bali. Meanwhile, her mother, Jero Desa, was a successful cloth trader.

Rapeg’s life was relatively affluent, in stark contrast to the conditions of many other families. At the age of nine, her father enrolled her in a local school known as a second-class school.

Her father was a forward-thinking man. He encouraged all his children, including Gusti Ayu Rapeg, to pursue formal education.

After graduating from the second-class school, Rapeg continued her education in Blitar, East Java. She and several friends enrolled in a women’s teacher training school called Meisjes Normaalschool. Armed with knowledge from Blitar, she returned to Bali and was assigned as a teacher at Meisjes Vervolgschool in Denpasar. She implemented programmes to eradicate illiteracy, as well as courses in household management and language skills.

Struggles in the Field of Education

Women’s activities at that time were often limited by customs and norms. Unlike men, who were always considered superior to women, especially in making choices and expressing opinions in all fields.

As a teacher, Gusti Ayu Rapeg placed great emphasis on education, particularly for women. Rapeg and her colleagues visited households to explain the importance of education for women.

Rapeg and her colleagues also formed an organisation called Perhimpunan Istri. They gathered wives of civil servants and carried out social activities.

The second organisation founded by Rapeg was Poetri Bali Sadar (PBS). They disseminated the importance of education to all levels of society. They held courses and training to enhance the skills of Balinese women.

Rapeg later married I Gusti Putu Martha. From that marriage, they were blessed with four children. Rapeg then held the position of Chair of Pertiwi Bali after her husband, I Gusti Putu Martha, served as the 4th Governor of Bali (1965-1967).

In her family life, Rapeg was a responsible mother who attended to the welfare and happiness of her household by focusing on the education and progress of her children. Rapeg breathed her last at the age of 87 in 2004.

I Gusti Ayu Rapeg’s struggles in the field of education have greatly influenced the women’s movement in Bali. Her contributions are also credited with improving the ability of mothers to read and write.