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ACTNews, JAYAWIJAYA, MENTAWAI -
Cold air surrounded the Al-Istiqomah Islamic Boarding School in Walesi Village,
Wamena, Jayawijaya, Friday (5/10). For those not accustomed to doing outdoor activities
in the cold, it may take a while for them to adjust to the freezing cold especially
when it is raining.
A traditional
Papuan house known as Honai stood in
one corner of the pesantren (Islamic
boarding school) complex. In addition, there is another building used for
teaching and learning activities. The students consist of local Wamena
residents, both native Papuan children and those whose parents come to Papua
for work. However, in the pesantren, they
study together side by side and coexist peacefully.
Hendra, one of
the teachers at the Al-Istiqomah Islamic Boarding School, told the Aksi Cepat
Tanggap team that students study in the pesantren
for free. The school also fulfill their basic needs. "We don't have
permanent benefactors. We live here despite limited conditions. But it does not
dampen the students’ spirit to study," he said.
Similar situation can be found in the Darul Ulum Private Islamic School in Sikakap, Mentawai, West Sumatra. The pesantren, which is located four hours away by speedboat from Padang City, also does not require its students to pay tuition fees. They are given free religious and nonreligious education. In addition, the majority of students who come from underprivileged families also get a place to stay like any other Islamic boarding school.
Handover of food packages to students and teachers at Darul Ulum
Private Islamic School in Sikakap in March 2019. (ACTNews)
Last March, ACT
had the opportunity to visit Darul Ulum. There are two classrooms that ACT
built in 2015. However, only one room is used for learning, while the other
room is used as a boarding house for male students. As a substitute, the langgar (small mosque) is used as a classroom
for 12th-grade students.
Iswandi, the
principal of Darul Ulum Private Islamic School said that his students came from
various parts of Sikakap. They are children of underprivileged villagers.
Although the school funding is uncertain, they are not required at all to pay for
tuition fees. "Our learning space is limited, and we eat poorly, but we
will never give up to be religious teachers in Mentawai, especially
Sikakap," he said last March.
Many santris, students of Islamic boarding
schools, in Indonesia live in limited conditions. They have to face several
problems from poor educational facilities to food scarcity. Nevertheless, many
remains enthusiastic to continue teaching and learning Islam in the pesantren. []
