Potret Pendidikan: Perjuangan Siswa Menerjang Anak Sungai & Berbatuan Ke Sekolah

Summary

In Mandailing Natal, Sumatera Utara, students face great challenges as they navigate treacherous rivers and rocky paths to reach their schools. Despite the lack of infrastructure, their determination to learn remains strong. For example, Merlin, a student at SMP Panyabungan Satu Atap, travels 7 kilometers daily, leaving at 6 AM to avoid being late. Many other students from SD Negeri 109 Siobon endure similar struggles. The school’s headmaster, Sahrudin, offers leniency for tardiness due to harsh weather conditions, but calls on local authorities to improve the roads for better access to education.

Takeaways

• 😀 Despite limited infrastructure, students in Mandailing Natal, North Sumatra, remain determined to pursue their education.
• 😀 Students have to cross rivers and rocky terrain to reach their schools, which requires significant effort and dedication.
• 😀 Merlin, a student from Panyabungan One Roof Junior High School, has to leave home at 6:00 AM to avoid being late.
• 😀 The distance between Merlin's home and school is about 7 kilometers, demonstrating the long commute for students in the region.
• 😀 Other students from SD Negeri 109 Siobon also face similar challenges, with long travel times to school each day.
• 😀 A local student reported that their journey to school takes about 2 hours, indicating the difficulties involved in reaching school.
• 😀 Students often face delays during the rainy season, with flooded roads making travel even more difficult.
• 😀 In the case of student lateness, the school principal, Sahrudin, provides leniency, especially for those who live far away.
• 😀 Although there is a policy of discipline for late arrivals, lighter penalties are given to students who have long commutes.
• 😀 Local schools, such as SMP 7 Panyabungan One Roof and SD Negeri 109, are calling on local governments to improve road access to schools.

Q & A

What challenges do students face in Mandailing Natal, Sumatera Utara, in reaching their schools?

Students in Mandailing Natal face significant challenges, including crossing rivers and navigating rocky terrain to reach their schools. The lack of infrastructure makes it difficult, but the students remain determined to continue their education.

How far do students in Mandailing Natal travel to school?

Students travel long distances, with one student, Merlin, covering a distance of 7 kilometers to reach her school each day.

What time does Merlin leave for school to avoid being late?

Merlin leaves her home at 6:00 AM to ensure that she is not late to school.

What difficulties do students encounter during their journey to school?

Students often have to navigate through challenging terrains, including crossing rivers and walking over rocky paths, which can be particularly difficult during the rainy season.

How long does it take for students like Merlin to reach their school?

For Merlin, it takes about two hours to reach her school, as her journey covers a 7-kilometer distance.

How does the weather affect the students' commute to school?

During heavy rain, the path to school becomes difficult to navigate, with flooding and mud making it even harder to travel to school.

What is the role of the school principal, Sahrudin, in dealing with late students?

Sahrudin, the principal of both SMP 7 1 Atap and SD Negeri 109 Panabungan, provides leniency for students who are late due to challenging conditions like rain or flooding. While some light punishment is still given, it is reduced for students who have to travel long distances.

What are the expectations of the local school authorities regarding infrastructure improvements?

The local school authorities hope that the regional government will improve the access roads to the schools to make commuting easier for the students.

What kind of punishment do students face if they arrive late to school?

Normally, students who are late would face punishment. However, if the delay is due to the difficulty of their commute, the punishment is made lighter.

How does the condition of the roads impact the education system in Mandailing Natal?

The poor road conditions pose significant barriers to students’ access to education, potentially affecting their punctuality and overall school attendance. Improved infrastructure would alleviate these challenges and support students' educational progress.