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oinciding with National Batik Day on Oct. 2, the Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI) presented an award to SMP Stella Duce 1 junior high school in Yogyakarta for being the first school to use batik uniforms designed and made by its own students.

“Today, we announce and certify that SMP Stella Duce holds the record for being the first school in Indonesia and the world to make batik fabric and use it for their
own school uniforms,” said MURI manager Sri Widiyati, who represented MURI director Jaya Suprana, to the applause from
around 700 students and teachers on Tuesday.

Widiyati then handed over a plaque to the school committee head GBPH Prabukusumo, school principal S. Listyawati Sri Hugrahaningsih and organizing committee head Frans Historiyana.

Those attending the event, including public officials, also wore batik shirts made by the students.

Yogyakarta Education Office head Baskara Aji even handed over a present to the student who had made the batik shirt for him.

Listyawati said the batik-making lesson was part of the school’s efforts to shape the students’ character through lessons with local content, such as batik-making. She said she was also learning to make batik herself and wished to make more batik fabrics.

“The process of the life of humans is like the process of batik-making,” said Listyawati.

Separately Prabukusumo expressed delight and pride in the SMP Stella Duce students who were able to make batik and later use it as their school uniform.

“I hope the batik-making program could also be developed in other schools under the auspices of the Tarakanita Foundation,” said Listyawati, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X’s younger sister.

School batik tutor Theresia Dharmayanti said batik-making was a lesson with local content that was compulsory for 8th graders, and an extra curricular subject for 7th and 9th graders. It is aimed at preserving Indonesian cultural heritage.

“The 8th graders begin by learning the history of batik and later batik preservation, batik-making and dyeing,” she said.

She added that the batik lessons commenced in 1985. Initially, students only made batik for handkerchiefs. From 2005, the batik
lessons were suspended because the tutor retired, they resumed in 2009.

Students, as well as teachers and school employees at the school also learn batik-making. It has progressed into batik painting and fabric for garments.

“We wear batik every Friday,” said students’ affairs teacher, Kurnia Ratnawati.

The students’ batik works are of a high standard and colorful. They are free to design batik motifs for their uniforms, some drew floral, animal and car motifs, including cartoon characters. Some also appended their names to their batik designs.

Ninth grader Mosensia Winona said batik-making was both complicated and easy. She, however said she liked it because she could create her own designs. She has made two batik uniforms so far.

“I’m proud because I can make batik with my own design,” said Winona.

Another 9th grader, Audi Christina, said she was happy she could learn batik-making because it was also aimed at preserving the Indonesian culture, apart from teaching patience and creative skills.

The MURI award ceremony, held at the school hall, was also enlivened by stage performances, such as geguritan, Javanese songs and gamelan, as well as a fashion show by the students who displayed batik clothing designed by them.