Pemali Boarding School Jadi Langkah PT Timah Dukung Indonesia Emas

Chriszona, one of the underprivileged students but outstanding from Pulau Kundur, Riau Islands (Photo: Maria Trisnawati/VOI)

PANGKAL PINANG - Matahari shines hot, the clock in hand shows 14.51 when we visited Pemali Boarding School which is located in Pemali District, Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands Province.

Pemali Boarding School is one of the social responsibility programs of PT Timah Tbk (TINS) to provide education for outstanding students but constrained by economic problems around the mining circle. This shows that PT Timah is not only active in mining and providing added value for tin commodities, but also supports the government's move towards Indonesia Emas 2045 by preparing superior human resources. -Since entering this dormitory area, it has been seen that several male students are playing football, some of which are seen enjoying a stream of wind under the shade of trees in the alley of the dormitory. Some female students chose to gather in gazebo-gazebo in front of the girls' dormitory while holding a laptop.

The dormitory, which is located 40 km from Pangkal Pinang City, is home to 108 students from the Provinces of the Bangka Belitung Islands, Riau, and Riau Islands to receive High School (SMA) education in the leading class for free with the help of PT Timah.

Ramdhani, Head of Dormitory and Staff of PT Timah's CSR Division, said that since its establishment in 2000 to 2017, this dormitory only accepts students from the Bangka Belitung Province, then in 2019 PT Timah will add Riau Islands Province as a beneficiary, followed by Riau Province in 2020.

"So there are 108 students from 3 provinces, 8 regencies and 1 middle city, so 9 regions. So the total is 108," he told VOI when we got the opportunity to visit this dormitory on August 20.

The Head of the Pemali Boarding School Dormitory, Fajar, said that at the beginning of his establishment, this program was named the Superior Class of SMA Negeri 1 Pemali and then in 2017 it turned into a program targeting students from underprivileged families but outstanding.

"For 2000-2014, all groups can enter Pemali Boarding School. Only in 2017 is the condition that we only accept for students who are less fortunate," continued Fajar.

To maintain the quality of learning, continued Fajar, every year Pemali Boarding School only accepts 36 students with strict selections including cooperating with PT Pijar Integra Psychology Unpad (PIP Unpad), Bangka Belitung Islands Provincial Education Office, PT Timah and SMA Negeri 1 Pemali.

To join this dormitory, students are required to take a series of tests prepared, including selection at the administrative stage, then further interviews will be conducted, Academic Potential Tests (TPA) and clinical psychological analysis, and finally medical tests.

"You have to read characters too. Social is emotional. And lastly it's in health. Health if you pass, health is good, already (loss)," explained Fajar.

Students Equipped With Soft Skills

Fajar said that all the residents of the dormitory received education at SMA Negeri 1 Pemali which is located 1 km. To go to school, each student is given one bicycle which will be used to go to school and return to the dormitory.

"This cooperation has been going on for 2000 and is still ongoing today. In academic matters, our students continue to trust SMA Negeri 1 Pemali," continued Fajar.

Meanwhile, for activities in Dormitory, Fajar said that everything was supported by the commitments that had been carried out by PT Timah. In addition to being equipped with academic abilities, students are also equipped with soft skills that are active every Saturday and Sunday.

This is evident by the existence of ponds for freshwater fish cultivation such as tilapia, to mini gardens planted with vegetables and fruit. Unfortunately, we visited during the dry season so that we could not directly observe the results of Fajar's gardens and fishery cultivation.

"This is corn, ever. Just because the conditions are dry, water is limited too. So we stop first for farming cultivation. Later we will continue again when it is the rainy season usually. We will spread the seeds again," explained Fajar while pointing at the pond and garden behind the dormitory.

Give Scholarships To Universities

Not only giving study space at the high school level, but PT Timah is also known to be active in providing scholarships for interpreting students who want to continue their education to universities, especially to State Universities.

"Those who take part in the service also remain wide open on the streets here. So it's not limited to just continuing to the university," continued Fadjar.

Fajar said, not a few alumni of Pemali Boarding School who are still actively visiting dormitories by bringing a successful story to university. According to him, this is useful for increasing student learning motivation to get an education even though it is hampered by the family economy.

"Because development may need to be given motivation to students so that they remain enthusiastic about developing themselves and learning because the average background of them was based on the basics of being underprivileged," he explained.

Berkiprah sejak tahun 2000, program ini telah menciptakan total penerima manfaat sebanyak 880 siswa. Adapun pencapaian dalam tiga tahun terakhir, terhitung sejak 2022 hingga 2024, 69 alumni diterima di perguruan tinggi seperti Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB),. Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Yogyakarta dan Universitas Padjadjaran (Unpad) Bandung. Bahkan, kini salah satu alumni telah kembali dan memimikari kari sebagai dokter di salah anak usaha PT Timah.

Achievement Student Warehouse

Despite coming from underprivileged families, students at Pemali Boarding School proved that shortcomings did not bury their dreams and achievements.

According to Fajar, his fostered students often represent SMA Megeri 1 Pemali in various competitions, both local and national levels. In fact, several students have made student exchanges to Malaysia, Japan, and the United States.

"The most national level participating in the OSN (National Science Olympics), Paskibraka, then there are several events that have become routines while they are in school events that they usually participate in," explained Fajar.

For this year alone, 8 of the 9 students included in the Olympics are boarding students. Fajar admitted that the dormitory also provided teachers for additional lessons for students in dormitories for English and Math subjects.

Not only that, the state-owned mining holding, MIND ID also provides support for educators by cooperating with online tutoring platforms, Teacher's Room for preparation for National Selection Based on Tests (SNBT) at state universities (PTN).

It was Chriszone Sianipar, a class XI student from Pulau Kundur Karimun Regency who attended the National Student Art Festival (FLS2N) at the Bangka Belitung Islands Province level representing SMAN 1 Pemali.

Growing up with dreams beyond his family's limitations, Zona aspires to continue his education to the Indonesian Art Institute (ISI) Yogyakarta. To smooth his steps, he often participates in traditional music competitions. Not only that, Zona is also actively participating in the musicalization competition for poetry and is waiting for the announcement of the results of the competition to then proceed to the national level

"Not long ago there was a musicalization competition for poetry, playing chord. Praise God it is still in the selection stage to the national level. If FSL3N has been fixed to the national level," explained Zona.

This 16-year-old teenager admits that he is grateful to be able to join Pemali Boarding School. The second child of two children admitted that he never even dreamed of being able to continue his education to high school and even went to college.

With parents who work only as farmers, Zona said that the lifestyle has changed drastically since living in Pemali Boardinh School.

"In a modest restaurant, here the nutrition is fulfilled and fulfilled. I don't think so far because my parents can't afford it," said Zona with teary eyes.

In three pieces of money with Zones, Viola Febiona, a teenage girl from Tobiali, South Bangka Regency, admitted that she did not even dare to dream of getting an education to college.

"When I was in junior high school, I thought about not going to college, Sis, because of the economic conditions of the parents who couldn't afford it," he said.

Pemali Boarding School seems to be Viola's golden bridge to be able to continue his education until college. Viola, whose parents work as pepper farmers, now has a dream of continuing his studies in Civil Engineering at Gadjah Mada University with scholarship support.

TJSL Commitment Of PT Timah

Division Head of Corporate Social Responsibility MIND ID, Satya Nugraha, emphasized that MIND ID Group consistently carries out social and environmental responsibilities (TJSL) with the main pillars covering 3 Priorities for Education, Environment, Micro and Small Business Development (UMK) and Social Activities.

Program yang dijalankan merupakan bagian dari strategi perusahaan, sekaligus upaya membawakan manfaat sektor perambangan secara langsung bagi rakyat Indonesia.

"For MIND ID, social programs are not just an effort to gain public trust, but a real step to build with the community from the regions," Satya said in a socialization activity for the 2025 MediaMIND at the Graha Timah Building, Pangkalpinang, quoted on Sunday, September 14.

PT Timah's Department Head Corporate Communication, Anggi Siahaan, said that the company is trying to ensure that it has a maximum impact on every social responsibility program.

By cooperating with community communities around operational areas, PT Timah ensures that the social responsibility program is in accordance with the needs of the community and is carried out in a sustainable manner.

"Historically, social responsibility activities have been carried out for a long time and we continue to be committed to carrying out this activity so that more benefits can be felt by the community," he said.