JOGJAKARTA – Kasirin (55) was teary-eyed looking at his new bike. He did not buy the new blue bicycle, but it was a gift from UGM. Three other parents, Ngadiyo (45) from Pandak, Bantul, Abdul Rahman (55) from Pleret, Bantul and Sugiono (43) from Minggir, Sleman, also received new bikes.
Not the new bike that makes Kasirin so thrilled and proud. But his youngest daughter, Novita Nurdiarini, was admitted to Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada. Moreover, his daughter gets free tuition for four years. "I'm very pleased, because a child of a person like me is able to be admitted to UGM," said the man originating from Donoharjo, Ngaglik, Sleman.
Certainly, it was inconceivable in Kasirin’s mind previously. As a truck driver delivering sand who has a modest income, he is able to send his child to study at UGM. He does not deliver sand every day. If there is no order, he does not earn any money at all. Moreover, the truck belongs to someone else.
Despite the little income, Kasirin never gives up. He always monitors his children’s study although his wife's role in the children's study is bigger. "I always ask them if they go home late in order to avoid bad influence from their social life," said the father of four children.
Having to live in modesty makes Kasirin’s children study hard. Her third child had been previously admitted to Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, UGM, and he was given free tuition. Now, Kasirin has two children studying at UGM without him having to pay for anything. As a parent, Kasirin certainly always wants his children to continue higher education in order to live better in the future. "I don't want my children and grandchildren to have a life like their grandfather," he said.
UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi, M. Eng., Ph.D., in a gathering with the parents of new students in Grha Sabha Pramana hoped that the bikes would be best used by their children. "Hopefully, the bikes would help their study," Sudjarwadi suggested.