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Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Rain, hail, or shine: Java's intrepid teacher on wheels

Duration: 01:55s 0 shares 1 views

Rain, hail, or shine: Java's intrepid teacher on wheels
Rain, hail, or shine: Java's intrepid teacher on wheels

When Java's schools were shut down, like many across the world, Henrikus Suroto knew that online classes wouldn't be an option for kids in remote areas.

That's when he got on his motorcycle.

Libby Hogan reports.

Six hours on dirt roads, and a motorcycle: Henrikus Suroto is a teacher on a mission.

When the island of Java, in Indonesia, saw it's schools forced to shut - like much of the world - he knew that teaching online classes wasn't going to be an option for the kids here.

The internet is shakey and some don't even have a phone signal.

.

So he goes to them.

"I'm a teacher, and it is my responsibility to do this.

I must accompany and teach my students.

If the students have no internet access then how can they learn?" Suroto is 57-years-old, and sometimes has to leave the bike to go on foot to reach students' homes in these hilly remote areas.

Third grade student Albertus Jonas Wiratama looks forward to his face-to-face lesson.

"Studying at home sometimes can be difficult, sometimes easy.

But if Mr Suroto is here, all subjects become easy." The students' parents welcome the respite from trying to take up the role as "stand in" teacher at home.

Indonesia has around 60 million households, but only about one in six had an internet connection last year.

"Well, I do not know what the internet is nor other sophisticated devices that are often used nowadays." Mr Suroto doesn't flinch at the many, many miles he's covering.

His only complaint?

The rain.

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