Madura
The School: PP An'Nuqayah
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Click on any of the following pictures to view a larger, cleaner version in its own window  Children's classes are often taught by women  Two Kyai look on as their brother Hamidi demonstrates the program Ketik! on a PowerBook (see Personal Section)   On the left we have the English Education Centre, with the Volunteer's room on the second floor; to the right we have Mr. Raufiq, a really good English teacher and friend!  Fairly upscale student's quarters, shot in three frames and assembled with ColorIt! by Hamidi. (click for a portrait of Hamidi, in green) |
Pesantren is an Indonesian word for schools with an Islamic focus. Although students follow curriculum approved by the state, their studies include many offerings in Arabic, Koranic literature, Islamic law, and the like. Within the pesantren students follow a regimented lifestyle structured around the five daily prayers required of all Muslims. Truancy may be punished by assigning miscreants to latrine duty, or worse, to cleaning out the open sewers of debris to prevent flooding. All pesantren are led by a group of teachers and religious leaders known as Kyai (Key-eye). At An'Nuqayah the Kyai are largely the great-grandchildren of the pesantren's founder. The Kyai are respected as teachers and devout men; some are even reputed to have supernatural powers, such as the ability to throw fire, absorb bullets, or shoot down aircraft. At An'Nuqayah many of the Kyai have worked to ensure that their students learn practical skills in addition to their religious training. Two small computer labs introduce students to basic computer skills with DOS applications such as Word Star and Lotus 1-2-3. Students can also learn touch-typing in another lab, a program originally begun by a Volunteers in Asia recruit named Tom Hutchins. Ten years later, the course is still going strong under the watchful eye of Tom's first students. VIA volunteers have been largely responsible for determining the direction and extent of the English course offerings; thus a high degree of self-motivation is required of the volunteer. In the past the volunteer has been provided with a private room above the English Education Center (see picture at left). Meals can be taken at the homes of neighboring kyai, purchased at "eating slots" (see "The People"), or cooked over a kerosene stove. While I was never officially posted as a volunteer at An'Nuqayah, I have spent several months there over the past five years. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to drop me a line. Currently VIA will only place a volunteer at the pesantren if a solid match is made. If you think you are the right person for the job, please contact VIA. You can see some paintings based on my time in Madura in the Analog section. (Click on the purple button in the column to your left.) For more information on VIA programs in Indonesia and elsewhere in Asia, including how to apply, visit the VIA website at http://www.volasia.org/. The people <>
The landscape <>
An Islamic boarding school Return to Window on Indonesia index © 1997 JRA.All Rights Reserved. |