Women of Choice
Advice that is Ignored
A bright morning. The shining sun warms the earth. The dew grains that still hang at the end of the leaves twinkle beautifully. Bright green leaves waving in the wind. The birds sing happily.
A woman swung her steps down the path. Right left along the way there is a broad pesawahan as far as the eye can see. After about 10 minutes the woman named Afika arrived at a building in the front yard there is a large signpost that reads SDN Bukit Harapan 2.
It has been about three years this Bu Afika devoted himself to the elementary school in his own hometown. During the three years he also sometimes had to teach 5 classes at once because other teachers rarely present with long distance reasons that are difficult to reach especially when the rainy season road access becomes slippery and muddy because it has not been touched by development.
Like today, it's almost 9 in the morning. There is only Mr. Amsaruddin who is already in the 6th grade. While the 1st to 5th grade are still waiting for the arrival of their respective class teachers who eventually become noisy children.
Ms. Afika tried to enter the 1st to 5th grade one by one to just give assignments in hopes of the class being calm and not rowdy.
The number of educators and employees who serve in SD Bukit Harapan 2 actually amounts to 10 people and the principal and guard. With teachers with PNS status of about 6 people, 3 honorary teachers including Bu Afika himself.
However, because of its location in a remote village with a very alarming road terrain makes PNS teachers who come from outside the village rarely come with a variety of reasons.
In fact, when they are the servants of the country were sworn when they first got the duty letter already promised to be ready if placed anywhere and will carry out the duties as it should. But, they seem to forget and do not feel guilty that they have actually received a blind salary because the obligations are neglected.
***
"Bu Afika should be grateful to be given a salary for 3 months of three hundred thousand. The honorary teacher out there is you know, who was only given fifty thousand doang for one month," said Pak Herman the school treasurer when giving the honor money to Bu Afika and his two friends.
"See after I became treasurer. I have been able to buy sofas, dispensers and other necessities for this school" said Mr. Herman proudly.
"But, sir, should our salary of 8 months still be paid because it is our right as an honorary power that must be paid from some of the BOS money, he said, and that's the decree and wisdom of the government." Ms. Afika tried to remind the school treasurer to represent her two friends.
Ms. Afika also desperately needs the amount of money that is not too large to meet the needs of her small family with two children who are her dependents. Because the husband only works as a day laborer in the fields owned by neighbors.
Both of his co-workers have families.
"Know what Ms. Afika is about BOS money. Here only I can manage and take care of school finances. If Ms. Afika is no longer willing to work here please come out now, there are still many people waiting in line to replace!" hardik Mr. Herman made the atmosphere in the teacher's room increasingly heated up.
"Udah, Miss Fika, we're quiet rather than later removed from the dapodic. Mending just obey the school rules," whispered Bu Lyra co-worker Bu Afika who came from the next village.
However, when he saw the irregularity it was all silent. No one dared to open their voices including the headmaster himself. Because it happens that the principal who served concurrently doubles the school at once with SD located in the parent village. So that much time was spent at the Bukit Harapan Elementary School 1. As for SD Bukit Harapan 2 all policies and other matters were handed over and passed to Mr. Herman.
Only Ms. Afika who occasionally dared to express her disapproval when looking with her own head irregularities are often done by Mr. Herman.
For example, when one day Mr. Herman invited other teachers to relax and hold a meal at a tourist spot using BOS funds that had just been liquid and received by Mr. Herman. Ms. Afika loudly expressed her objection.
"I'm sorry, sir, not that I meant to patronize. As short as I know, the BOS funds given by the government are not for the purposes of outside the school but to meet the needs of students and to pay the salaries of honorary workers whose data has been entered dapodik not for swish and have fun," said Bu Afika at length who just contact to make Mr. Herman's face suddenly so red.
"If Ms. Afika does not want to come, please. I ngajak teachers who just agree," denied Mr. Herman while glancing cynically towards Bu Afika.
"Please ma'af, sir. I just want to remind in the Qur'an that the law has been explained about the prohibition of corruption that sounds like this:
وَلَا تَأْكُلُوْٓا اَمْوَالَكُمْ بَيْنَكُمْ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتُدْلُوْا بِهَآ اِلَى الْحُكَّامِ لِتَأْكُلُوْا فَرِيْقًا مِّنْ اَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ بِالْاِثْمِ وَاَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُوْنَ
Meaning: Do not eat the treasure among you in a way that is iniquitous and (do not) you bring (majority) the treasure to the judges with the intention that you may eat some of the property of others by the path of sin, when you know. (QS: Al-Baqarah verse:188)
"While the actions of this father have been included in the category of corruption because it uses money not in its place," concluded Bu Afika did not despair to continue to remind his senior teacher.
"The corruption is if I enjoy the money alone. While all this time I use it always together with other teachers as well," said Mr. Herman still did not want to lose and felt guilty.
***
A few months after the dispute between Pak Herman and Bu Afika. Something beyond Mr. Herman's expectations happened. His name was plastered in the newspaper with a case of misappropriation of BOS funds.
Shortly after a few days later came a group from the authorities to check and drive Mr. Herman to the local district police. Because the evidence and witnesses so strongly point to Mr. Herman the man who was fattened was not able to dodge and was unable to defend himself.
His good name is also tarnished by his own behavior who never want to receive good advice from others and always feel right himself. His family did not escape the gossip and social sanctions that must be accepted because of the actions of men who never felt afraid of sin.
