CENTRAL BANGKA -- The selection process for PT TIMAH (Persero) Tbk’s Pemali Boarding School Program for the 2026/2027 academic year is still ongoing. Currently, the selection team has entered the field survey and verification stage by directly visiting prospective participants across various operational areas.
This year, a total of 194 students registered for the Pemali Boarding School program, which was open from March 2 to April 10, 2026.
The Pemali Boarding School scholarship program is one of PT TIMAH’s flagship initiatives aimed at improving the quality of human resources in mining communities, with priority given to high-achieving students from low-income families.
One of the participants is Keyla Fatima, a 9th-grade student from SMP Negeri 2 Namang. Keyla said she learned about the program from her teacher, who encouraged her to continue her education through a scholarship pathway due to her strong academic performance.
“I first got the information from my teacher, who then encouraged me to apply. From there, I became interested and decided to join the selection,” said Keyla.
Support from her parents has further strengthened her determination. She even expressed her readiness to live in a dormitory if she passes the selection. Keyla hopes to develop her potential and achieve her dream of becoming a doctor.
“I’m ready, and my parents fully support me. Even if I don’t succeed this time, I will stay motivated and not give up,” she added.
She explained that her main motivation for joining the program is the opportunity to access quality education and to develop her potential to the fullest.
In addition to Keyla, the selection team also visited Tiara, a student from SMP Negeri 6 Sungai Selan, Central Bangka. Despite living with limited resources, Tiara remains highly motivated to continue her education.
Tiara’s mother, Jumaidah, expressed strong support for her daughter’s participation in the Pemali Boarding School selection, especially given their modest economic condition.
“This is our family’s situation—Tiara’s father works as a scrap collector, and I am a housewife. I fully support my child in taking this test. Opportunities like this are very valuable for our child, especially with the boarding system that can help build independence,” she said.
She also admitted that she was initially concerned about the costs. However, after learning that all expenses are covered by PT TIMAH, the family became more confident in supporting Tiara’s participation in the selection process.
Through this field verification process, PT TIMAH ensures that the scholarship program is well-targeted and able to reach students who have strong potential while also needing educational support. (*)
