TANJUNG SELOR Chancellor of the University of Kaltara (Unikaltar) Didi Adriansyah assessed that the establishment of the Garuda School by President Prabowo Subianto was a strategic and transformative step in building superior Human Resources (HR), especially for border areas such as North Kalimantan (Kaltara).
According to him, the presence of the Garuda School in Tanjung Selor, Bulungan Regency, is not only a symbol of equitable national education, but also a momentum for the revival of border area education towards Indonesia Gold 2045.
"The establishment of the Garuda School shows the President's attention to border areas such as Kaltara. This is not just a physical development, but a long-term investment to produce a superior, characterless, and global competitive generation," said Didi Adriansyah, Thursday, October 9.
Didi explained that Garuda School will focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). This program is a tangible manifestation of President Prabowo's vision to expand opportunities for Indonesian children from all over the country to be able to penetrate the world's best universities.
So far, the gap in education is still felt between Java and outside Java. With the Garuda School in Tanjung Selor, we hope that this inequality can be reduced. Children in Kaltara are also entitled to access world-class education," he added.
The Chancellor of Unikaltar emphasized the importance of collaboration between Garuda Schools and local universities, including Unikaltar itself, to build a superior education ecosystem in border areas.
"We at the University of Kaltara are ready to synergize. Collaboration in research, teacher assistance, and STEM-based learning integration can be a form of concrete contribution from universities to the success of Garuda School," he said.
Didi highlighted the importance of an inclusive and fair student admission system. According to him, it is necessary to apply a regional and economic-based affirmative quota, so that children from remote areas and families with economic limitations get the same opportunity.
At least 50 to 60 percent of students come from remote areas and borders. This affirmative quota must be a moral commitment, so that Garuda School is truly a bridge for children who have difficulty accessing quality education," he said.
He also suggested that the government carry out roadshows and socialization directly to remote areas in Kaltara, so that information about Garuda Schools is conveyed evenly. According to him, the presence of Garuda School should also not reduce the government's attention to existing SMA, SMK, and MA.
The schools, said Didi, remain the backbone in preparing students before entering superior education.
Garuda School must be a center for educational innovation, not exclusive. Instead, it must be a locomotive that attracts the entire regional education system to move forward," he concluded. (*)
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