ACTNews, BANYUASIN - Komariah (29), a teacher who has devoted herself for nine years at the distant class of Muhammadiyah 4 Elementary School, in Saluran Village, Talang Kelapa Subdistrict, Banyuasin Regency. SD Muhammadiyah 4 distant class is the only school in this village, with only 25 students. The school consists of six levels, and they have only one classroom. The building is also inadequate, with roofs made of zinc sheets and unpainted walls.

On Sunday (12/1), Aksi Cepat Tanggap (ACT) had the opportunity to meet Komariah, who only received IDR 500,000 a month. Even with a small salary, Komariah never complained. She is still grateful for her monthly income "The important thing is that the children in my village can be well-educated," she said.

Not only that, but Komariah also needs to struggle as a teacher because the village in which she teaches has not been electrified. At night, the light comes from electric generators or oil lamps. In the midst of this limitation, Komariah's only hope is that education in her village can improve.

Muhammadiyah Elementary School 4 distant class in Saluran Village, Talang Kelapa Subdistrict, Banyuasin. (ACTNews)

Komariah is one of hundreds of thousands of honorary teachers in Indonesia who receive low salaries. They live in dire poverty. However, their enthusiasm to advance education in all corners of the country does not dampen.

Global Zakat – ACT visited Komariah to provide a financial allowance, an implementation of the Sahabat Guru Indonesia (SGI) program. The program that was launched on the National Teachers’ Day on November 25 aims to support the economy of underprivileged teachers in Indonesia.

ACT Program Director Wahyu Novyan said that the program beneficiaries include teachers with low-income criteria. "This program is the best appreciation from ACT to dedicated, economically underprivileged teachers in Indonesia," he explained. []