Catching My Teacher: 1. The golden boy

Rebecca Henschke (0:00)

Before we start, I want to let you know that this series of World of Secrets contains references to sexual abuse.

Yusron looks down at the message on his phone. Find a safe place, somewhere quiet, now. It's from his sister. They haven't spoken in months.

There's always noise and very little privacy at his college in Indonesia's megacity, Jakarta. Yusron walks outside, scanning for somewhere. A spot in the garden, under some vines not far from the road. It'll have to do. But when he calls back, it's not his sister who answers.

Omara Esteghlal (0:46)

Assalamualaikum.

Rebecca Henschke (0:48)

It's his teacher, the headmaster of his former boarding school. He's at Yusron's house.

This is a man Yusron reveres, who he calls Abah, father. Yes, Abah?

Omara Esteghlal (1:04)

I never, never thought Abah would come to my house. It caught me off guard, but I knew, I knew exactly what he wanted to talk about.

Rebecca Henschke (1:16)

So he hits record on his phone, secretly capturing every word.

Paul Agusta (1:23)

What can we done to retract those words, my child? You know, I can't sleep, I can't sleep.

Because of what you shared, our enemies are using it to destroy the school. This will destroy the school, my child.

Rebecca Henschke (1:47)

Yusron's head is spinning. He leans against the wall.

Paul Agusta (1:53)

If this is leaked to the media, I'll be destroyed. Abah will be ruined, completely destroyed.

This is not the way to treat your father, my child.

Rebecca Henschke (2:09)

He's relentless.

Paul Agusta (2:11)

Yawla.

Cover the shame of your teacher. Cover the shame of your teacher.

Omara Esteghlal (2:18)

Cover the shame of your teacher.

I had never even heard him cry. And now, he was crying to me.

Rebecca Henschke (2:32)

He needs to decide. Will he cover up his teacher's shame, or will he bring him down? This is World of Secrets, Season 13, from the BBC World Service. Catching My Teacher. I'm Rebecca Henschke. Episode 1, The Golden Boy.

On Lombok, the island next to Bali, sleepy fishing villages have been transformed into yoga studios, juice bars and these Instagrammable bamboo gyms. The white sandy beaches of the south of the island are drawing more and more tourists. The pace of change is breathtaking. But a short ride on a motorbike inland, set back from the road amongst rice paddies, coconut groves and low hills, is the Abu Barakat Islamic boarding school. Here, every day follows a rhythm that rarely changes.

In an open wooden pavilion, with an iron roof, students sit cross-legged, knees touching, reciting the Qur'an. Boys on one side, in crisp white shirts and traditional black petchy caps. Girls on the other side, a sea of white head scarves over green dresses. At the front is the school's founder, the headmaster, 52-year-old Ahmad Imamuddin Sumar, or Abah. With a trimmed beard, white turban and flowing robe, he sits watching through round glasses, constantly feeding prayer beads through his fingers.

It's 2018, and Yusron Azhahidi is 15 He's moving around, filming the prayer service on his phone. He's one of the only students allowed to have one.

Paul Agusta (4:47)

That's one of the privileges of the media.

Omara Esteghlal (4:49)

Yeah, it was one of the privileges that came with doing the school's social media. I was allowed a smartphone.

Rebecca Henschke (4:56)

He's devout, diligent, vocal and good with a camera. He posts photos, records events, and makes videos for their Instagram and YouTube accounts.

Omara Esteghlal (5:06)

Welcome back to our channel. Today we will talk and explain...

Rebecca Henschke (5:10)

Wide brown eyes, a quick, easy smile, Yusron is popular. But Zia, who's in the year below him, finds him...

Prilly Latuconsina (5:22)

Irritating, what's up with this guy?

I'm sitting where I like to sit, in the middle, so I can see Abah, get his blessings. And there's this annoying guy who is always in the way filming. But yeah, Yusron was, he's smart, very smart, and kind of famous at school.

He was close to the teachers and close to Abah.

Rebecca Henschke (5:49)

And did you think he was cute?

Paul Agusta (5:54)

He was all right.

Prilly Latuconsina (5:56)

There were many others that were better looking.

Rebecca Henschke (6:02)

They're taught in Arabic and English alongside Indonesian. But as you've probably gathered, they're telling their story in Indonesian, so actors are voicing their words. Deep friendships and memories are made here. But the lesson they're taught to remember the most is Samina Watana.

We're here and we obey. And the person they need to obey here is the headmaster. The man they're told to call Abah, father.

Omara Esteghlal (6:53)

He's a very dignified person. He has this strong presence, probably because he doesn't joke around much. He really carries himself with authority.