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Sofia’s Quiet Classroom

Ferganata Indra Riatmoko

· 5 minutes read

Sofia Wulandari, 7, ran to the school yard while straightening her cap, which is part of her school uniform. With only 16 students, the flag-raising ceremony at the school was quiet. She was the only new student at the school.

The flag-raising ceremony on Monday (22/7/2019) was the second for Sofia, a first-grade student at SD 1 Pohoh state elementary school in Kepoh village, Sambi district, Boyolali, Central Java.

The ceremony proceeded without a loudspeaker device. The voice of the ceremony commander was clearly heard by the participants, namely 16 students and five teachers.
Not far from where they stood, a street banner reads "This School Will Not Be Closed". The banner had been installed to dismiss rumors that the school — which was established in 1976 under Presidential Instruction (Inpres)— was to be closed. The Inpres refers to Presidential Instruction No. 10/1973 concerning the Basic School Development Assistance program, which is a program to expand learning opportunities, especially in rural and urban areas with low-income residents. (Kompas, 18/12/1973).
The plan to close the school was successfully brushed aside thanks to Sofia\'s presence. She was the only new student in the school this academic year. Every day, Sofia is escorted and picked up by Suratmi, 34, her mother, who is also an alumna of the elementary school.
"Even though she only has a few friends, I still send my child here because it’s a good school. It’s also the closest to my house,” Suratmi said after taking her youngest daughter to the school.
After the ceremony, Sofia and her friends returned to class. Sofia only has one classmate. The student was from the previous school year who failed to continue to the second grade.
KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO
Students and teachers attend the flag-raising ceremony at the start of the school day on Monday (22/7/2019) at SDN 1 Kepoh state elementary school in Kepoh village, Sambi district, Boyolali regency, Central Java. Only one new student has enrolled at the school this year, bringing the student body to 21. The school had 200 students – its largest student body – when it opened under the education program stipulated in the Presidential Instruction of 1976.
In the 7.5-meter by 7.5-m classroom, the two of them sat at their own table. Eight other tables were empty. Although it was quiet, first-grade teacher Kriswantinah, 55, guided her two students through their reading and writing lesson.
Single registrants
The school is filled with near-empty classrooms. The Grade 2 classroom only contained two students because one other student had been absent from the beginning of the school year. The Grade 3 classroom had three students, Grade 4 had four students, Grade 5 only six students and the Grade 6 classroom was attended by three students.
According to Kriswantinah, who is also the most senior teacher at the school, in its early years, SDN 1 Kepoh could receive up to 200 students. Student registration has gradually dropped since 2012. At the beginning of the new school year, the school only had seven applicants.
Many parents choose to send their children to state elementary schools in other villages or to private schools. In addition, a kindergarten near SDN 1 Kepoh was closed.
"This year is the worst because we only got one [new] student. We only have 21 children registered at the moment," Kriswantinah said.
SDN 1 Kepoh is not too isolated. It is 19 kilometers from the government office complex of the Boyolali administration. Access to the school is also relatively easy as it is located next to a six-meter-wide road.
Aside from the small number of students, the school also suffers from lack of teachers. Currently, the school only has two permanent teachers and one school principal, plus three non-permanent teachers.
“How can we improve our quality of education when the number of teachers is limited. Indeed, we need to show the quality of our education to attract parents to send their children to our school,” said school principal Sri Sunarti.
The small number of students has also affected the amount of the government operational funds the school receives. The permanent teachers have to set aside about Rp 250,000 (US$17.87) each per month from their salary to pay for the non-permanent teachers.
Still open
Kepoh village finance affairs head Siti Maryam said residents hoped that SDN 1 Kepoh, the only elementary school in the village, would not be closed. The elementary school has graduated quality students, she said.
“Graduates have become lecturers, flight attendants and mining workers,” Siti said.
The decreasing number of student applicants was also seen in SDN 1 Senting, some 3 kilometers from SDN 1 Kepoh. This year, the school only welcomed two new students.
SDN 2 Senting school principal Sayitno said the number of students had been decreasing in the past four years.
In 2018, the school only welcome three new students.
KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO
SDN I Kepoh elementary school principal Sri Sunarti teaches a class of two second graders on Tuesday (23/7/2019) at the school in Kepoh village, Sambi district, Boyolali regency, Central Java. Only one new student has enrolled at the school this year, bringing the student body to 21.
Regarding the minimum number of students, Boyolali Education and Culture Office head Darmanto said he was assessing which schools would be closed and which ones would be maintained. Boyolali now has 562 public elementary schools and 36 private elementary schools.
It needs mapping to find the right solution for schools with few students and teachers, including in Boyolali. Such a solution is needed to ensure quality education for the next generation.

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