Pudin: Concern over School Dropouts

Dwi Bayu Radius

· 6 minutes read

Pudin, 34, helps school dropouts in his village. Thanks to Pudin and a number of highly dedicated teachers, children can now continue their education for free. Although there are various shortcomings, Pudin actively teaches and improves the quality of his school.

Wearing white shirt and dark blue pants or skirts, the students climbed steep ground without steps. They headed for Madrasah Tsanawiyah (MTS) Mathla\'ul Anwar Sariak Layung in Peucangpari village, Cigemblong district, Lebak regency in Banten on Monday (09/10/2018).

The 100 square meter school is located on a land with a higher position. At MTS Mathla\'ul Anwar Sariak Layung that has three classes, the students enter school at 1 p.m.

Pudin began his class by delivering a subject about national hero Agus Salim, who was persistent in fighting for Indonesia\'s independence through diplomacy. “Agus Salim also contributed to the world of Indonesian scouting,” said the acting principal of MTS Mathla\'ul Anwar Sariak Layung.

Inside the class, the students paid attention to Pudin seriously. They sat on a dirt floor that was covered with plastic. The students were studying without tables and chairs. Their shoes were put off. A worn-out board was placed on the ground.

There was only one classroom in the school that had door. The door was rickety. The wind, blowing through the perforated bamboo wall, can be felt.

Pudin left the class because he had to welcome several guests. The staff members of the waqf management agency came to assess the MTS Mathla\'ul Anwar Sariak Layung. Their presence was one indication of the amount of support to cope with lack of facilities at the school.

Then, Pudin discussed with them about the agency\'s plan to provide assistance. Thanks to Pudin\'s persistence, there is a hope that the teachers and students could occupy a decent school. Many parties are willing to give donations. Some companies also offer social responsibility funds.

The Banten Religious Affairs Office has collected data about the school. Pudin has also gone back and forth to process the assistance. “This week I went back and forth to Rangkasbitung and Ciboleger [Lebak regency] and Serang City. Sometimes, I returned home at midnight,” he said.

Pudin started activity at 7 a.m. The temporary solution also made the teachers and students breathe a little relieved as they are allowed to use the Peucangpari State 2 Elementary School (SD). After the elementary students returned home, the students of MTS Mathla\'ul Anwar Sariak Layung were able to study.

“Depending on the weather. They just studied at elementary school when it rained. However, the students love to study at their own school,” he said. The students and the teachers are now happy because the executive board of the Mathla\'ul Anwar will build a new building about 100 meters from the current school location.

“The land that is now used is prone to landslides. The building is planned to be used in January 2019,” said Pudin. The number of students at MTS Mathla\'ul Anwar Sariak Layung is 47 people. The majority of the student’ parents only work as farm laborers.

Free

In Peucangpari village, the children desperately need junior high school (SMP) free of charge. The plan to establish the school has been mentioned many times since 2006. Pudin and six other teachers finally established the school in 2012.

The school is based on MTS Mathlaul Anwar Cijaku, which is about 5 kilometers away. At that time, the number of MTS Mathlaul Anwar Sariak Layung students was only three people. “However, no matter how many students, we will still teach. If there are no junior high schools, they will drop out of school,” he said.

Besides MTS Mathlaul Anwar Cijaku, the other closest school is SMP Negeri 2 Cijaku which is also about 5 kilometers from Pasirpeucang village. When they grow up, those who drop out of school usually go to Jakarta to work as domestic assistants or to Malaysia to become illegal rubber tapping workers.

The location of MTS Mathla\'ul Anwar Sariak Layung moved from time to time. During the first year, for example, MTS Mathla\'ul Anwar Sariak Layung is located at a small mosque. The building was later dismantled and the learning activity continued at one of the residents\' house for six months.

They can build the school after a resident who is kind enough allowed Pudin to use the land. The cost of the school development was only Rp 17 million plus donations in the form of wood, bamboo and mats from local residents.

Pudin and his colleagues rely on school operational assistance for routine expenditure of Rp 250,000 per student per quarter. Although it is free of charge, some students do not continue school.

The number of teachers at the MTS Mathla\'ul Anwar Sariak Layung school is 11 people. The teachers from a number of other schools teach

students of MTS Mathla\'ul Anwar Sariak Layung. The teachers\' pay depends on the length of time they teach, but they receive a maximum of Rp 700,000 per quarter.

Only one teacher at MTS Mathlaul Anwar Sariak Layung is a civil servant. Other teachers are still contract teachers. “Indeed, being a teacher at MTS Mathlaul Anwar Sariak Layung needs high dedication and loyalty,” said Pudin.

Pudin\'s high concern for school dropouts could be traced from the Peucangpari village that is full of these problems. Since childhood, Pudin observed the interest of the parents in the village to send their children to school was very low.

“In Sariak Layung village, I was the only student who continued my education to junior high school. The parents actually love to see their children continue education,” said Pudin. However, many parents cannot afford to send their children to school. If the students drop out of school, they only help parents to farm.

After graduating from senior high school (SMA), Pudin entered the Open University in Pandeglang regency. So strong was the intention to get a tertiary education that Pudin attended classes for employees. In fact, Pudin only tapped rubber in the farm of his parents.

“After six months, I was expelled from the Open University. Indeed, at that time I was doing everything rather than being a homeless,” he said.

Now, Pudin, who has obtained a bachelor\'s degree, still has the ideals of establishing a high school in Peucangpari village.

Pudin

Born: Peucangpari village, Cigemblong district, Lebak regency, Banten,

June 22, 1984

Wife: Sarah, 29

Child: Salahudin Alfarizi, 3

Education:

- SDN 2 Peucangpari, Lebak, Banten, 1993-1999

- SMPN 1 Cijaku, Lebak, 1999-2002

- Madrasah Aliyah Mathla’ul Anwar Cijaku, Lebak, 2002-2005

- Diploma-2 in education from Syekh Manshur Religious School in Pandeglang, Banten, 2006-2008

- Degree in basic education from Pasundan University in Bandung, West Java, 2009-2012

Editor:

madrasah tsanawiyah (mts) mathla'ul anwar sariak layung