SMP Al-Siddiq International organised a series of activities to commemorate the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia on 17 August 2026. The celebrations were both solemn and lively, involving the entire school community in an atmosphere of togetherness and national pride.
The series of activities began with an Independence Day ceremony held on the SMP Al-Siddiq International school field. The ceremony was led by the school’s Paskibra (Flag-Raising Team), who had undergone prior training and preparation. With discipline and a strong sense of responsibility, the Paskibra members carried out the flag-raising ceremony in an orderly and solemn manner.
Serving as the ceremony leader and delivering the address was Muhammad Fathul Ihsan, M.Res., Deputy Head of SMP Al-Siddiq International for Curriculum Affairs. In his address, he encouraged all participants not merely to commemorate independence as a ceremony, but also to understand the values of struggle and sacrifice behind it.
He recounted how the nation’s heroes fought for independence despite facing severe limitations. Amid battles filled with the sounds of bullets and gunfire, the freedom fighters courageously confronted the colonisers with simple weapons, including spears and sharpened bamboo. Their struggle demonstrated that independence was achieved through sacrifice, courage, unity, and a long and determined struggle.
By the grace of Allah SWT, the struggle of the nation’s heroes ultimately led Indonesia to independence. Therefore, independence is both a blessing and a trust that must be appreciated, protected, and upheld by future generations.
Indonesia’s long journey in defending its independence has never been an easy one. Preserving the true meaning of independence remains a challenge for today’s generation. If the struggle in the past was carried out through armed resistance against colonialism, today’s struggle can be expressed through education, achievement, unity, and positive contributions to the nation.
In his address, the ceremony leader also emphasised that true independence does not simply mean freedom from colonial rule. It also encompasses the freedom to think, the freedom to grow and develop, and the freedom to contribute to the life of the nation and state, while continuing to uphold moral values, responsibility, and concern for others.
Independence Parade and Film Screening
After the ceremony, the celebrations continued with an Independence Parade. All participants enthusiastically took part in the parade around the area surrounding SMP Al-Siddiq International. The activity provided an opportunity to foster a spirit of togetherness while creating a lively and enjoyable Independence Day atmosphere for the students.
With the spirit of the red and white, the participants took part in the parade in an orderly manner, carrying with them the spirit of independence and a sense of pride as the next generation of the nation. The activity also served as a means of strengthening bonds between students, teachers, and the wider school community.
The celebrations continued with a communal screening of a film about independence. Through this activity, students were invited to revisit the stories of the nation’s heroes and deepen their understanding of the values of courage, sacrifice, unity, and love for the homeland.
The film screening was also designed as a learning experience that connected more closely with the students’ world. The history and struggle for independence were not only explored through textbooks, but also presented through a visual experience intended to foster empathy and appreciation for the sacrifices and contributions of the nation’s heroes.
The series of Independence Day celebrations at SMP Al-Siddiq International brought together the solemnity of the ceremony, the spirit of togetherness during the parade, and meaningful learning through the communal film screening. All of these activities were intended to nurture a strong sense of nationalism while reminding the younger generation that the independence they enjoy today is the result of a long and courageous struggle that must continue to be protected and honoured.
Independence is not merely a legacy of history, but a trust that must be filled with knowledge, achievement, good character, and meaningful contributions to the nation.
By: Retno Suzanne Handayani, Lc., M.Pd.
By : Retno Suzanne Handayani,Lc,M,Pd