BANGKA BARAT -- Dozens of students from SMP Islam SMART (Sholeh, Mandiri, Aktif, Responsif, and Tangguh) Pangkalpinang took part in an educational visit to the Indonesian Tin Museum (MTI) Mentok on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
A total of 28 students, accompanied by two teachers, enthusiastically participated in the Outing Class activity—learning outside the classroom—held at the Indonesian Tin Museum (MTI) Mentok, managed by PT TIMAH Tbk.
The visit aimed to broaden the students’ knowledge about the history of tin mining in Bangka Belitung and to help them better understand the region’s cultural heritage.
MTI Mentok itself is one of the cultural heritage sites in West Bangka that serves as an educational and historical tourism destination—not only for the local community but also for visitors from other regions and even abroad.
Arya, a teacher from SMP Islam SMART Pangkalpinang, explained that this activity is part of the school’s learning program that encourages students to study directly outside the classroom environment.
“Our goal for this visit is to strengthen relationships, expand the students’ knowledge, and inspire them to be more enthusiastic in learning and creating. Through this Outing Class activity, we hope to cultivate their curiosity and passion for learning about local history and culture,” said Arya.
One of the ninth-grade students, Affina Khoirunnisa Azzahra (14), said she was excited to visit the Indonesian Tin Museum in Mentok.
“I learned many new things here, such as the history of Bangka Island’s formation, the culture of the Bangka people, and the development of tin mining and smelting technology,” she said.
Similarly, another student, Jeki, also found the visit very meaningful.
“After visiting this museum, I learned a lot more about the history of Bangka Belitung and the tin mining industry that characterizes our region. I hope I can come back again someday,” he said.
The ninth-grade homeroom teacher of SMP Islam SMART, Intan Istiqomah, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to take the students to this historical museum.
“This is our first experience visiting a museum on Bangka Island. We hope the knowledge gained here can be developed further and shared with other students at school. We also just learned that this museum is the result of collaboration between three countries, which makes it a source of pride for Bangka,” she explained.
Through activities like this, the Indonesian Tin Museum Mentok continues to serve as a place for learning about history and culture while strengthening young people’s awareness of the importance of preserving the tin industry heritage that has long been part of Bangka Belitung’s journey.
