LSM Edukasi Dasar, established in 2005, is known by locals as the “free” school in the area. No admission fee or tuition is charged; children are welcome to join and learn.
“I said, ‘Why did you write those things on my wall? Can you read it?’ and he answered, ‘No.’ It turned out that he had been taught by older kids. From then on, I was moved to teach these children to read. “It took them three years to learn to read, albeit not very fluently. The important thing was that they could read, write and count so that they would not be tricked when doing their work,” she said, noting that their slow learning was largely caused by delayed brain development due to poor nutrition.