Boundless dedication is shown by Uswatun Hasanah, an educator at the Pujoraharjo Private Elementary School (SDS), Pujoraharjo Hamlet, Banjaran Village, Padang Cermin District, Pesawaran Regency. Since 2004, she has dedicated herself to educating children in this remote region, despite facing limited facilities and challenging geographical terrain.
Located at the peak of Mount Bundar, the school where Uswatun teaches currently has only ten students. The teaching and learning process takes place conventionally using blackboards and books because it has not yet been reached by the internet or PLN electricity. Quite often, learning activities have to be moved to a safe corner of the classroom when rainwater begins to drip from the leaking roof.
Safety is the top priority at this school. Given its high-altitude location, extreme weather such as heavy rain accompanied by lightning often forces teachers to end the learning process early. Uswatun explained that for safety reasons, she often asks her students to go home immediately when lightning starts striking the mountain peak.
Despite receiving a very minimal honorarium of IDR 300,000 per month, Uswatun admits that her greatest happiness is seeing the enthusiasm and joy of the students as they absorb knowledge. The laughter and innocent interactions with the children have been her source of encouragement, keeping her at the school for more than two decades.
Amidst all the limitations, a great hope remains in Uswatun's heart. She dreams that one day her school will have modern supporting facilities such as computers and projector screens like schools in urban areas, to provide a better educational future for the children at the peak of Mount Pesawaran.
