The Story of a Dormitory Guardian Shaping Character and Maintaining Discipline at a People's School
The role of Muhtadin Yanto (33) as dormitory guardian at the Boys’ Dormitory of People’s Junior Secondary School (SRMP) 9 in Bandung, West Java, rarely attracts the spotlight. Yet it is through his steady hand that students’ characters are positively shaped.
“Our moral burden is that we must accompany the children throughout their time in the dormitory, because life in the dormitory effectively amounts to three times the school day,” Muhtadin said in a written statement on Saturday (21/2/2026).
SRMP 9 Bandung currently enrols 47 students. There are two dormitory buildings — one for boys and one for girls — each overseen by a single dormitory guardian.
A dormitory guardian is not merely tasked with looking after students and ensuring their needs are met. He must also ensure students wake up on time, follow their scheduled activities, and go to bed punctually.
Muhtadin explained that educating children from diverse backgrounds is no easy matter. It requires a tailored approach and firmness in building discipline within the dormitory. “The first three months were quite demanding in terms of conditioning and establishing routines,” he said.
Beyond teaching discipline and self-reliance, Muhtadin strives to correct poor behaviour among students. He frequently encounters misbehaviour in the dormitory, such as foul language and quarrels between students.
“It was truly extraordinary, but thankfully now everything has changed. Before the dawn prayer, everyone is already up and bathed,” he said.
The progress of SRMP 9 Bandung students is evident in several respects, including improved discipline and independence. Students’ habits have also shifted away from gadget dependency — a result of the combined efforts of dormitory guardians and teachers in educating the students.
“We continue to educate them gradually, because the challenge for this generation is addictive gadget use. It reduces their concentration and affects their emotions,” he explained.
Behind Muhtadin’s dedication lies a personal sacrifice. He must live apart from his family in Sukabumi, West Java. For him, this is one way of contributing to poverty alleviation and realising President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita vision.
“The People’s School must succeed, because what other way is there to alleviate poverty except by breaking the cycle through the next generation?” he said.
He believes the People’s School is a strategic programme for poverty alleviation by breaking the intergenerational transmission of poverty, rather than merely distributing social assistance.
This conviction motivates Muhtadin to persevere through the challenges and dynamics of dormitory life. He has experienced many joys and hardships over the first semester of the People’s School programme.
“When President Prabowo launched the People’s School to eradicate extreme poverty, I thought — this is far more strategic than just handing out social assistance,” he concluded.