J

em>JP/Markus Makur Maria Margaretha Bupu, 58, has 33 years of experience teaching first grade students at Waelengga Primary School in Watunggene sub-district, Kota Komba district.

Over the decades she has helped to lay down the foundation for intellectual growth for many children in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, despite the challenges of adjusting her teaching methods to rural conditions and limited educational
facilities.

'I feel very happy I've been entrusted with teaching first graders so far. I've devised my method to suit my students and make it easier for them to understand the subjects taught. I have to combine the lessons given with questions and answers, while repeating the previous lessons they learned,' Margaretha, as she is called, told The Jakarta Post recently.

She said she could not resist her inner call and enthusiasm to devote her life to teaching primary school children and helping them to develop their intellectual capacity in spite of limitations and challenges.

'At first I taught third graders in 1975, but in 1980 I was trusted to handle the first grade. After so many years of teaching new elementary school students, I've become part of the class, though their different levels of capacity and types of behavior need specific treatment,' she indicated.

The 1974 graduate of Setia Bakti Teacher's Training School in Ruteng, Manggarai, said teaching disobedient and slower students required perseverance and patience, besides using suitable techniques and discipline. This is especially the case as the majority of the first graders under her charge are the children of farmers.

'I'm very grateful to note that my endeavor has been fruitful. Some of my former students have become Catholic priests, church ministers, nuns, doctors, teachers, corporate personnel, members of the military and police. I think I've done the best I can as a professional teacher to lay the primary groundwork for the further advancement of Indonesian citizens,' said the wife of Agustinus Nggose, a retired teacher and ex-principal of Waelengga Catholic primary school.

According to Margaretha, some of her students are brilliant and most have different intellectual levels, but she has always applied the appropriate method in order to tap into their hidden intelligence.

'For me, there are no dull students. They only need specific ways of handling based on prevalent conditions,' explained the first child of the late Nikolaus Nono and Veronika Pegho.

Born in Kisol, West Flores, on June 6, 1955, Margaretha nurtured her love of teaching after graduating from Mataloko Catholic Junior High School. Her parents sent her to the teacher's training school in 1971.

She said that in her teaching career she had once received a very small salary that had to be collected all the way in Ruteng, the capital of Manggarai regency, hundreds of kilometers from Waelengga.

Despite the low salary at the time, Margaretha remained loyal to her profession and maintained discipline in her classes. She regrets the fact that some Indonesian teachers are less dedicated to their jobs while enjoying a higher level of welfare.

'We used to teach six classes with only three teachers available. So, we had to share two classes each and we performed our work quite well,' she said.

Margaretha noticed that any slowness in learning lessons among first graders mostly originated in weak family guidance and the unfavorable social environment. In her opinion, students sometimes don't repeat the lessons learned at home. Their parents never ask them whether there is homework.

There's a big difference, in her view, between the students of her time and those at present in their zeal for learning. Her former students used rock slates to write on with enthusiasm, while today even with writing books they're less passionate due to the effect of video games and smart phones.

'I've even caught students sleeping during class. I've never forced them to work to their limit, but I always call on them to help them remain eager to learn and gain knowledge,' she said.

With regard to the primary school curriculum, Margaretha said that any change in the curriculum by the government should be preceded by upgrading and training courses. For 2013, the curriculum will be determined by the Education and Culture Ministry.

'The expression 'teachers are unrecognized heroes' is actually still relevant because they indeed have a role in enhancing the intelligence of citizens,' said Margaretha, the mother of five ' Viktoria Yohana Nggose, Yanuarius Krisostomus Nggose, Yuvensius Robertus Nggose, Kristina Karunia Nggose and Petrus Kurniadi Nggose ' who has always struggled for teachers' welfare, the latest being her demand for teachers' certification funds.