"The Buried Dream : When Children's Dreams are Stolen by Poverty"

Every man or woman on the planet is guaranteed access to mandatory education. In Indonesia as well, it should be fundamental that all children receive equal opportunity for quality education. However, reality hits us when we find ourselves facing realities far removed from the lofty educational goals. Statistics by BPS indicate that there are 8.4 million Indonesians without jobs and a great percentage 22.03% from this group are 15-19 years of age. This reality throws the influence of restricted environmental knowledge and socio-economic limits on educational advancement, lifestyle of children who are deprived of meaningful employment opportunities and means of development of the country into sharp relief.

Through the use of a short film titled, Impian Bagas, produced by Yayasan Gugah Nurani Indonesia (GNI), this important concern is demonstrated. Bagas, a young boy who featured in the movie faces the following barriers including the economic challenges and community pressures that threaten to hinder his quest to pursue further education. Bagas’ dream is to study architecture to honour his father’s legacy by acquiring construction skills in a school. Under the financial squeeze, chores, and pressure from the community, Bagas’s family had to consider the possibility of availing him in the work place instead of the school. From Bagas’s story, the film draws attention to not only his problem, but the harsh reality of life that is shared by many Indonesian children. When schooling is disrupted, vast knowledge is lost, and great, thriving lives and equal opportunity thereafter are lost.

The after-effects of school dropouts are very serious as it affects the national development beyond families. Those infringement of puberty like Bagas faces, there are increased chances of early marriage, criminal activities, persisting with unemployment and systemically held in poverty. Slow wear and tear of human capital eventually has bad implications on the development and standards of the country. Lack of quality education makes young people unable to obtain certain thinking and professional skills, thus resulting in lower levels of economic productivity and a slowing of national growth. This hinders innovation and economic development slowing down the achievement of inclusive growth and global competitiveness, the critical elements for the achievement of shared national goals.

The absence of opportunities for education sustains a never-ending cycle of poverty and inequality, which only makes it harder to break free from it. In homes that lack the quality of education, children tend to face the same barriers effectively designing inequity circles from generation to generation. In societies with limited access to education, people are more vulnerable to negative impacts such as crime, extremist ideology, and disinterest from civic issues. As such, the national gain is stalled and the achievement of joint social and economic targets is stalled. Education, therefore, is an element that can be learned by all the members of the society and therefore, requires involvement of families, communities, and the government to create a more inclusive just and progressive country.

Bagas decided to continue his education (Source : Youtube Gugah Nurani Indonesia)

In the term Impian Bagas, Impian means the unfulfilled aspirations of thousands of Indonesian children, whose hope is imperiled by the broken education chains. These dreams matter to these thousands of youngsters such as Bagas not just personally but also via the future of the country. Educational disruption or refusal to provide educational services limits not only a child’s ability but also contributes to an overall failure of the nation. Education is more than just schooling; it protects the dreams, the skills and the potential of Indonesia’s next leaders. Childhood deprivation of it spells the ability of children both to envisage the potential and the ability to plan towards a better future not only for their own lives but also the well-being of their country.

Dr. Ki Hajar Dewantara’s wisdom says: “Ing ngarsa sung tuladha, ing madya mangun karsa, tut wuri handayani” meaning, “Leaders should set examples, those in the middle should build the spirit and those at the back should help”. This philosophy brings out the need for educators, families, communities and the state to work together in ensuring that children like Bagas do not miss their dreams because of inadequate education. With the protection of the right to education, Indonesia can enjoy long term improvements, creativity and a flourishing future for all of its people. Although reading, learning environments, and tests define learning in many ways, fundamentally, learning is about enabling and respecting dreams, value and futures of every child in a country.

Because when a child’s dream is buried beneath poverty and ignorance, it’s not just one future we lose, it’s the future of a nation. Let us remember: investing in education is not merely about building schools, but about building hope, dignity, and an Indonesia where no dream is left behind.