By Galuh Octania | Research Trainee
Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”, yes, it might sound cliché for some people, but it isn’t for the majority of children in Tambora and Koja. School is the only place where they believe that they still have the rights to dream of brighter futures, just like everyone else. However, the cost of entering secondary school seems to be the greatest barrier for them. When every other privileged kid is busy making a list of junior high schools to continue on, do you know what the very first option of these underprivileged kids is? Not continue their school and move back to their villages.
During our visit to Tambora, we met Asyla, a 12-year-old girl of Al-Muawanatul Khaeriyah Elementary School, she told us that she might not be able to enter junior high school- “I want to continue my study here, but I don’t know yet because my family is asking me to go back to the village” she kindly said when we asked her about her study planning. As one of the smartest students in her school, we know that she has a chance to build a promising future. But the unfortunate possibility that she will not be able to continue with her education, means we are unintentionally allowing her to enter the black hole of an uncertain and unpromising future.
When we traveled to Khairiyah Secondary School in Koja, the school principal also stated that last year, many candidates withdrew their applications as they were unable to pay the entrance fee. He regretfully expressed that the school could not give certain students their degree certificates, as they still owed debts to the school since the very beginning of secondary school.
We need your help preventing such difficulties in the future. In fact, you can pave the way for them to continue a proper education. We are not only eager to see them graduate proudly, but we are also hoping they will graduate happily with the knowledge that they managed to continue with their studies. Asyla and all the kids want you to smile joyfully with them.
"I hope I can share you my story on my first day of junior high school, only if I get a chance to continue my schooling." (Asyla Nazwa)
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