Fara, great leader in education program of Tulang Bawang

Her name is Fara Ramadhina, a bachelor graduation of social and politic science faculty of university of Indonesia, one of the best universities in Indonesia. She graduated with cumlaude result, and can easily get a job in good company.  But she has done something different, a sincere job to give something for others, to dedicate her knowledge to teach children in the middle of nowhere. “Indonesia Mengajar”, is the independent program to send the best and chosen under graduated student to teach at the elementary school in the place where the education still need improvement and far from down-town.

The reason of why I am decided to write about Fara, is because I want to show that figure of the leader is not only the person who can speech well in front of audience, or has a high position in company or government, but the most important thing is they are respected and trusted by people around them, do great thing and work hard in doing a change to make other people have a better life.

Fara has been placed in some place named Way Kenanga, West Tulang Bawang, Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia. She has been appointed to become an additional teacher in SDN 04 indraloka II (government elementary school) for one year.  The goal of the “Indonesia Mengajar” program not only to send additional teacher to the school, but also to improve the school’s quality, the student’s quality, the existing teacher’s quality, and most important thing is to introduce high quality of teaching method.  And at the end of the day, the quality of Indonesian children will be improved.

One of many interesting things is the place where Fara has been placed is a place that far from anywhere, need hours to get there by car, and the electricity often shut off, can be 4 times a day. In the place like that, many people do not realize the importance of education.  Therefore, she not only teaching her students about regular study, but also has to become a role model for her student.

Align with the goal of the program, she has to influence people, teachers, and government officer’s mindset to realize of how important good education.  Her role there is to change people’s mindset, and that role is what leader supposes to do. “Need a leadership skill to change other people’s mindset. It can be done by discussion, cooperation with government officer, sharing motivation to youth, training for teachers, etc”, Fara explained her role.

The school and people condition when Fara first come on November 2012, is different from now days.  Before, many teachers do not know how to use demo kit for teaching, some teachers have a lack of knowledge in understanding the student’s need, the student do not know how to dream, do not have motivation to go to higher grade of school.  People’s response in the beginning is not always well, there must be people who do not open minded and willing to accept changes, even if that is to make things better. On top of that, Fara also try to know her students more deeply, to be able to influence their mindset and give motivation of how important education is. And there are not only her students, but also their parent’s point of view about education.

She has to teach her students to be dared to dream high. In that place, people usually send their children only until Junior High School, and do not continue to the higher grade to Senior High School or University.  In many occasions Fara join social events to give training and education. She also gives motivation for her student to reach higher education and help them to register to university.

 

She proudly said that this year, there are 4 senior high school students that get scholarship in good University. That is a very good achievement for her.  That achievement becomes a pioneer to change people’s mindset of how important education is. As she said, this is only a beginning from long journey to make Indonesia’s student have a dream high and get better education.