Asoka School

Today i just finish editing the long due photograph that i took when visited Singkawang in March 2015.

7th Grade

Bhante Thitayano

I got the chance to stay in Asoka School, located in Singkawang City, West Borneo, around 4 hours drive from Pontianak Airport. It is a small developing kindergarten, elementary and junior high school where the highest rank of the class they have is 7th grade.

They just begin building the school recently, less than 10 years.

Under the guidance of Bhanthe Thitayanno, the school growing rapidly from one class under the same roof with the Buddhist Vihara. And now the school have more than 12 class room and growing.

The school Mission is to create "Cendekiawan Berbudi Luhur Berkualitas Prima" , translated "Scholars Virtuous with Prime Quality".

And i can see that happening, with what I witness while staying 4 days in the school.

Every morning, all student are tought to pay respect to the elder with Anjali (putting both hand together and bow).

And they practice meditation every morning before class.

Mr Dedi, Asoka School Principal

The teacher are young and idealist , lead by 28 years old School Principal , who they called "Dedi , The Gang Leader". He likes the name Gang Leader cause he believe to lead all the kids not as his kids but as his equal family. Where even the kids have the right to punish the School Principal when he made mistakes or being late to school. He tought them not by telling but by spending time to learn and play together, to experience things in life. He often visit the student parents and also try to help them with their problems.

As I travel all around the city with Mr Dedi, i witness so many people and farmer that acknowledge and respect him as the kids gang leader. He is very popular around the old lady.

Looking at Mr Dedi's life , there is a small hope that someday , perhaps, i also can rest my self to help teaching the kids, preparing them to be a good person in this life.

You also can visit www.facebook.com/budi.widjaja to view some other picture that i took when i stayed in Asoka School.