A Bridge Between Knowledge and Culture: Hartono, a Gamelan-Playing Community Learning Center Tutor, a Master’s Degree, and a Volunteer Spirit
BANYUMAS-JAYA NEWS.COM – Amidst the hustle and bustle of modernization, the spirit of preserving local culture never fades. An inspiring story comes from Hartono, S.Pd., a tutor and secretary of the Al Zaytun Community Learning Center in Indramayu, who is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree at UIN Saifudin Zuhri Purwokerto. His academic journey is not just about earning a degree, but also a noble endeavor to ingrain the noble art form of “Karawitan.”
From Learning Community, Education Leader, to Community Service Volunteer
Hartono is a living proof of the success of non-formal education. He is not only a staff member but also an alumnus and member of the Al Zaytun Community Learning Center Alumni Association. His work as secretary and tutor at the Al Zaytun Community Learning Center demonstrates his dedication to education.
However, Hartono’s dedication extends beyond the classroom. He is also known as an Al Zaytun volunteer serving in the Al Islah Guest House unit. This role demonstrates another dimension of his dedication: his willingness to sacrifice, serve, and become an integral part of the larger system within his institution. The Community Service Center (PKBM), often overlooked, has shaped him into a competitive, visionary, and socially minded educator.
Karawitan, the Flesh and Blood of the Cultural Coordinator
Beyond his duties as an educator and volunteer, Hartono has a deep love for the art of Karawitan. For him, Karawitan is not just an art form, but his “flesh and blood.” At Ma’had Al Zaytun, he was entrusted with the role of Karawitan Arts Coordinator, shouldering significant responsibility for the regeneration and preservation of Javanese culture.
This passion for preservation led him to pursue a master’s degree. He chose a thesis research topic highly relevant to his passion: “Development of a Karawitan Arts Teaching Module.” This step emphasized the importance of elevating traditional culture to the academic level as a serious effort to preserve it.
Bringing Gamelan to the Gates of UIN’s Postgraduate Academic
On Thursday, October 23, 2025, Hartono, along with his fellow graduate student, Sholehudin, from the UIN SAIZU Postgraduate Program, conducted valuable field research at SDN 2 Semedo in Pekuncen, Banyumas. This school was chosen because of its commitment to implementing Karawitan extracurricular activities, making it an ideal cultural “laboratory.”
This research represents a concrete effort by academics to directly address the issue of cultural preservation amidst the challenges of modernization.
The principal of SDN 2 Semedo, Guntur Danang Sulistyawan, S.Pd., welcomed the initiative. He emphasized that introducing Karawitan from an early age is key to keeping “the art of Karawitan alive in the hearts of children.”
“This visit is a perfect harmony between a PKBM tutor’s dedication, love of culture, volunteer spirit, and the academic responsibility of a postgraduate program,” said Guntur, Thursday, October 23, 2025.
Epilogue: PKBM, a Candradimuka Crater that Gives Birth to Complete Individuals
Hartono’s story is a powerful narrative about the existence of PKBM. More than just a place to complete a Package A, B, or C diploma, PKBM is a Candradimuka Crater that forms complete individuals. It educates not only the mind, but also the heart, body, and soul.
Hartono proves that PKBM graduates can reach the pinnacle of academic excellence at the UIN Postgraduate level, become guardians of cultural fortresses, and dedicated volunteers. PKBM Al Zaytun has produced Hartono, who now serves as a bridge between non-formal education, higher education, social service, and the preservation of ancestral heritage.
The existence of PKBM is no longer merely an alternative program, but rather a solid foundation capable of producing individuals who are not only intellectually intelligent, culturally rich, and have a volunteer spirit, but also ready to be agents of change and constantly maintain Indonesian harmony. They are True Punggawa: Teachers, Scholars, and Guardians of Culture.**
Author: * Hartono
* Ali Aminulloh
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