Democratic Party chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono welcomes Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto at his home in Cikeas, Bogor regency, West Java. The two met for a discussion on Thursday (27/7).
Ladies and gentlemen, there is no need to worry too much about a meeting by two former generals who are preparing themselves for the 2019 presidential election, even though they mutually share the burdens of the past.
Do not be in a panic also to see the behavior of politicians who lack dignity and civility that frequently appear in the media. Nor is there any need to be anxious in watching the characters of a group who claim to be religious, but their behavior is to often call other parties outside the group as infidels, because they want to monopolize heaven alone.
Ignore all of them, because the following empirical experience is good news, deeply touching those who still have the right mind and at the same time shine a bright light on the future of this nation. There are still good people who care deeply about the fate of others, who share their fortunes and sow virtues, especially in education.
When I say“good persons”, this does not necessarily include myself. However, these refer to the good people in my personal experience over the years who have frequently come to me, whether they be ulemas, pastors, former combatants, reverends, monks, generals, businesspeople, intellectuals, social workers, activists, educational activists, or kawulo alit (low-class people).
A part of their character does not want to become assertive, does not care about publications, but their deeds are directly felt by many people in their surrounding communities. If observed carefully, these good human figures can surely be found among various subcultures, ethnicities, tribes and professions. Quite often among them, ordinary people have done extraordinary things for educational, social and humanitarian interests. This fact certainly relieves and comforts us in the midst of the morality of the nation, which remains unstable.
Therefore on July 21 and July 28-29, for the umpteenth time, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with such good people. First, the experience in Tenggulun village, Lamongan, East Java, home to the combatants who rocked the world with their Bali bombing on October 12, 2002.
Regarding this story, I have disclosed it in the mass media. The second experience on July 28-29 in Surabaya was with the leadership of the Indonesia Sejahtera Barokah Foundation, which helps thousands of poor students and their teachers in that city. They have not been touched by the state’s hands. For me, the experience was very impressive. The foundation was established on May 2, 2001, led by an educator, Yasin Wijaya, an alumnus of a university in the United States.
Starting with the arrival of an educational activist from East Java several months ago named Muhammad Supriyanto, I was invited to be present at the Jatim Expo building along with 9,000 students of elementary schools and madrasah ibtidaiyah, who have so far been marginalized.
Supriyanto travels from city to city by motorcycle, including several times to meet me in Yogyakarta. I don\'t know how many thousands of kilometers he has been with his trusty motorcycle. Entrepreneurs strongly believe in this educational activist.
Because the students were accompanied by their parents, who also numbered 9,000, the Jatim Expo building was not able to accommodate them. Therefore, the committee was forced to hold the event from morning to the afternoon of July 29. Imagine – the building packed with 18,000 people. On that day, all students were given shoes from a jewelry businessman. Then several schools for the poor that were short of facilities were also given desks and chairs by a furniture entrepreneur.
And do not forget that there are 570 teachers from 62 schools under the auspices of the foundation, having incomes of only Rp 300,000 to Rp 500,000 per month, who were each given a subsidy of Rp 900,000 per month by the foundation. Not to mention the provision of milk and fruits, which were also free of charge. According to the information I obtained, there are about 300 schools for the poor in Surabaya alone.
Joining forces for change
The meeting on July 29 was the third ever since the 2015/2016 school year. Initially there were only six schools, but this later increased to 27 schools, and this year, the number swelled to 62 schools. Next year, of course the number of schools for poor students to receive subsidies will increase.
These schools are provided not only with subsidies of materials, but also instruction and training on discipline in order to improve the quality of education. On August 1, I received a short message from Yasin: "Of course, they are happy to get shoes from us. The dignity and identify of the children need to be developed and their spirits raised. Hopefully, they will be able to have desires, ideals, not just poverty as the shackles of life." I immediately replied: "Excellent, if virtues are spread en masse, the future of this nation will be bright, like the bright Surabaya, illuminated by the Indonesia Sejahtera Barokah Foundation. Greetings to my dear friends."
Of the jewelry entrepreneur who provided shoes to 9,000 students, I asked the number of entrepreneurs in Surabaya. The answer was below 100, but the number of those who cared and had a sensitivity to help poor people, especially for educational purposes, was very limited.
With the help of only a handful of entrepreneurs, dozens of schools can be empowered and upgraded. If entrepreneurs in a number of areas across Indonesia were willing to do the same, of course our national education would face change, from a murky atmosphere to a bright one. Imagine, in Surabaya alone, which has a mayor who is going global, there are still many schools that lack facilities.Do not ask about the situation of schooling in eastern Indonesia; it will surely be much worse and grimmer.
Finally, we all hope that those entrepreneurs who control great assets of the Indonesian economy will want to imitate their partners in Surabaya. Referring solely to the state’s achievements in line with the 1945 Constitution to "educate the life of the nation", history shows that 72 years of independence has provided far from expectations. The state\'s ability to advance education is also limited and often misses the target.
AHMAD SYAFII MAARIF
Former Chairman of the Central Executive Board of Muhammadiyah
