Teacher Continuously Fights for Independence
Warkina
“I will achieve independence when local children can go to school and their parents are no longer illiterate.” This statement was made by Warkina, 38, a contract teacher in Cirebon regency, West Java. He does not own a house but he has established a reading space, two early childhood education centers (PAUD) and a literacy program in his village.
The sun had set in Suranenggala village, Suranenggala district, Cirebon regency, on Sunday (30/4/2017). Three local middle-aged women had been enlightened with new knowledge that day.
“Now we know where RA Kartini was born. She was born in Jepara,” said Sutarni, 55, showing a piece of paper with a photograph of the colonial-era feminist and a short bio of the national hero.
Earlier that afternoon, Sutarni, who did not finish elementary school, had received reading and writing material in the form of a short biography of RA Kartini. Also, she is now able to read the lyrics of the song “Ibu Kita Kartini” (Our Mother, Kartini).
Such were the activities in the reading, writing and math class initiated by Warkina. The class is held in the front yard of the house of Kuni, 67, Warkina’s mother, in Jumat block, Suranenggala village.
On simple floor mats and under corrugated sheet roofing, dozens of local women attend classes there every Sunday afternoon. A sign stating “learning knows no age” hangs there.
“My husband used to doubt my decision to join Pak Guru’s class. He used to say, why study? We are already old,” Sutarni said. Sutarni has attended classes for eight months. She said her husband finally voiced his support once she could read, sign her name and write her husband’s name on an envelope.
Sutarni is just one of 40 local women attending Warkina’s classes for the past year. Generally, they were not able to read or write and could not sign their names. Some had been deceived into signing documents that they knew nothing about. It is things such as this that Warkina wishes to change.
Renting a place
Together with his wife Paniah, 34, Warkina knocks on doors to offer reading, writing and math lessons. “Many voiced doubts as we wanted to teach people of our parents’ age,” Warkina said.
One time, he was accused of working with a member of the Cirebon Legislative Council. Some thought that he was spreading certain ideologies among local women.
“I then brought an Islamic cleric here to talk about the importance of knowledge,” he said, laughing. Warkina also offers water bottles for dispensers and hijabs as prizes for women who excel in his class.
Eliminating illiteracy is just one of Warkina’s achievements in the education world. Six years ago, the contract teacher at SMP 2 Suranenggala state junior high school established a PAUD center in Surakarta village in Suranenggala.
I then brought an Islamic cleric here to talk about the importance of knowledge.
By renting a home, Warkina, who gets paid Rp 500,000 (US$37.50) per month, can offer education at the Balai Wiyata PAUD for free. The independently run school only had 10 students at first.
Warkina said it is important to instill in parents that childhood education is important. The problem is that many Suranenggala residents, who mostly work as fishermen, factory workers and farmhands, did not finish elementary school.
Nowadays, his PAUD has 32 students and charges a monthly fee of Rp 15,000. This is cheaper than the monthly fee for another PAUD in the district, which charges Rp 35,000.
“I initially offered free education. However, the parents were concerned for us and ended up paying. It’s helps pay the PAUD rent, which is Rp 4 million per year,” Warkina said.
In 2014, Warkina and Paniah went on to establish the Balai Ceria PAUD in Paniah’s parents’ home. Luckily, Paniah’s parents did not complain. Warkina expanded the veranda to accommodate 50 students, who attended classes for free.
As time passed, the number of students grew to 67 and the PAUD was eventually moved to a village-owned building. Parents agreed to pay Rp 10,000 per month.
The two PAUDs that Warkina established are registered and will enjoy operational fund assistance from the central government starting this year. Nevertheless, Warkina remains creative in his efforts to not depend too much on the government.
He allows parents to pay for their children’s education at the PAUD with plastic household waste. Each kilogram is worth Rp 4,000. “At first, each parent could only give a few hundred grams a month. Now, some give us 5 kilograms a month,” Warkina said. He showed us the sacks of household waste savings at the back of his mother’s house. The goal is simple, namely to teach children how to be responsible for their own waste.
People often feel refreshed at night markets and at Car Free Day events. Why don’t they read?
Mobile library
The graduate of the Majalengka Yasika Teachers Training College (STKIP) also established a reading space called Podo Moco, meaning “reading together”, at his wife’s parents’ house. Last year, together with his wife and daughter Pondia Clausa, 7, Warkina started traveling to local night markets in an old Suzuki Carry van three times a week with 300 books of various titles. Some of the books were his while others were donated by the village office.
“People often feel refreshed at night markets and at Car Free Day events. Why don’t they read? Government-owned libraries are often deserted,” he said. Despite offering reading material for free, Warkina has to pay parking fees of between Rp 5,000 and Rp 10,000 at the night markets and Cirebon’s Sumber city park.
Unfortunately, the used van, which he bought for Rp 11 million and is paying off in installments, broke down and is being repaired at an auto shop. “Well, it’s an old car. It often needs repairs,” he said.
Where did Warkina get the money to establish the PAUDs and the reading space? He earns a minimal wage as a contract teacher and lives in his wife’s parents’ home.
“I got Rp 10 million by pawning my gold. It was my earnings from working in Singapore,” Paniah said, smiling. The former migrant worker fully supports her husband’s work. Paniah said that she did not want her neighbors to remain uneducated.
Sometimes she is sad as the money that she had saved to buy new clothes for her daughter had to be used to cover the PAUD teacher\'s salary and to pay for car repairs. “We can always find more money. No one knows where and when,” said Paniah, who teaches at the PAUD.
Thanks to his wife’s support, Warkina can provide an education to the children and adults untouched by the trillions of rupiah allocated for education in the state budget. Within the walls of his school, his status as a contract teacher does not reduce his enthusiasm as a teacher. He established a reading space and encourages his students to read 50 books per semester and to write.
“I will be relieved if the local children can read and no one is illiterate here,” said Warkina, who did not go to university due to lack of funds. Education must liberate, instead of the other way around.
