RUMOR HAS IT
On May 1, 1984, with a capital of 500 thousand Rupiah, Bob Foster and his 3 friends, Irfan Anshori, Johnson, and Kamajaya, founded Ganesha Operation (GO), a tutoring institution in Bandung.
According to this father of 4, those exam questions can be predicted, so students don’t need to go crazy searching for leaks. As long as they are trained well, they can definitely solve them. If a student fails to get into a State University (PTN), GO is bold enough to refund their money. “We monitor it every month with simulated national exam questions. We map out the mastery of each topic, material, and chapter. We will guide students who are weak in their understanding. There is a category of students we call the “alert group,” and we involve their parents. We offer extra study hours for specific chapters, and we ask parents to supervise their practice at home.” Bob continued, there are some students whose parents may be too busy and not involved. “Well, that’s already a risk. But the money will still be refunded if they fail the test.”
“I have experience working at Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN). One time, we brought in consultants from abroad. We even gave them excessive recognition, even though they might not be that great. So, I suggested at that time to return it because I didn’t think they were capable. Our mindset needs to be changed. If we move according to that mindset, we will be able to rise. The same goes for GO students.”
In GO, all teachers undergo training to learn how to teach in a way that motivates students. “At the beginning of each session, there should be a 3-minute motivational opening, followed by a 4-minute break in the middle. At the end, we slip in a 3-minute motivation before dismissing,” said the man who earned his PhD from Padjajaran University, Bandung, West Java.
Although it’s distributed in short bursts, according to Bob, students who were once lazy to study have changed their learning patterns. “There was even a student who was on the verge of suicide. After receiving counseling and motivation, they found their rising self-image and got accepted into a state university in Bandung.”
The current GO, which now has 150 thousand students, can be a second home for students with the application of principles of honesty. “Honesty is not just a law. But we all have a God who dislikes lies. We also emphasize family values to students so that they don’t get trapped in negative values like partying, drugs,” explained Bob.
“They generally undergo changes. From being prone to telling little lies. If there’s a problem, just speak up, it’s much better than lying. It will affect your life. Your children and grandchildren will feel the impact.”
Since GO was established in 1984 until 2002, there were no issues. However, the number of students started to decline. “I wrestled with my thoughts. I honored God in my life and conducted all activities in GO with truth. Until a friend challenged me. Why is it declining? But I still prioritized God, and by December 2005, a survey by SWA Magazine noted that GO was the tutoring institution with the highest number of students in Indonesia.”
In 2007, Bob predicted that there would be a multiplication of the number of students. From 24 thousand students in 2007, it became 48 thousand students in 2008. “I prepared the budget. Otherwise, when people come, the teachers, the rooms, the study materials will run out,” said Bob.
RUMOR HAS IT that GO now has a total of 411 branches in 140 cities in Indonesia. In addition to GO, in 1999, Bob also opened Pelita Nusantara College of Economics (STIE) on Jl. Sumatera 35, Bandung, and Piksi Ganesha Polytechnic on Jl. Gatot Soebroto 170, Bandung in 2004.
