PANGKALPINANG -- PT TIMAH Tbk views education as the key foundation for improving the quality of human resources, especially for communities in the company’s operational areas.
This commitment is realized through various strategic programs designed to broaden access to education, enhance student competencies, and strengthen the capacity of educators.
PT TIMAH Tbk’s support for the education sector is not just a short-term initiative but a long-term social investment that the company has consistently carried out for decades.
Several strategic programs have become an important foundation for the development of education in the company’s operational regions, including in the Province of Bangka Belitung Islands. Among these are the company’s support for the establishment of Bangka Belitung University (UBB) and the Babel Manufacturing Polytechnic, both of which continue to serve as key higher education institutions in the region.
One of PT TIMAH Tbk’s flagship programs, which has been running for decades, is the Pemali Boarding School Program. To date, the program has produced 852 alumni and continues to provide full scholarships to 108 active students. The program is continuously being developed, including through the introduction of MINDUcation, a modern learning platform within the MIND ID education ecosystem.
Through the Pemali Boarding School Program, PT TIMAH Tbk offers opportunities for high-achieving students who face financial barriers. Students from the Riau Islands Province, Riau Province, and the Bangka Belitung Islands receive full boarding scholarships.
The Chairman of the Pemali Alumni Association, Idu Papinda Jaya, said that the Pemali Boarding School Program not only provides educational scholarships but also plays a significant role in character development.
“In the dormitory, it’s not always about academics. Many of the most important lessons for character building—such as discipline and independence—were shaped there. We also learned how to interact and socialize with friends from different regions with different backgrounds,” he said.
He appreciated PT TIMAH Tbk’s consistency in running the program for 25 years, which he believes reflects a strong commitment to preparing high-quality human resources. Many scholarship recipients have achieved national and international accomplishments.
“We truly appreciate the Pemali Boarding School Program. The alumni association is ready to collaborate with PT TIMAH Tbk on various educational and human resource development initiatives,” he added.
In addition to the Pemali Boarding School scholarships, PT TIMAH Tbk also provides scholarships for outstanding university students across various campuses. This support is expected to help produce more competent and competitive young talent ready to enter the workforce.
According to a previous statement by Darlan, Acting Head of the Bangka Belitung Education Office, PT TIMAH Tbk has played an important role in improving education quality. Going forward, he hopes the collaboration will continue through various new initiatives.
“We appreciate PT TIMAH Tbk’s contribution to education, including organizing parenting seminars for children with special needs. We hope this collaboration continues,” he said.
PT TIMAH Tbk’s commitment goes beyond scholarships. The company also supports improvements in educational infrastructure, both formal and informal, such as providing desks and school equipment, constructing and renovating educational buildings, and supplying other learning facilities.
To strengthen teacher competence, PT TIMAH Tbk has introduced various capacity-building programs, including the Gernas Tastaka Program for math and science teachers and a Literacy Training Program to help teachers adopt more adaptive teaching methods.
Through these regular training sessions, teachers are expected to implement more creative, effective, and relevant learning approaches.
One participant of the teacher literacy training, Destriani Elvira from SDN 22 Mentok, expressed her gratitude for being part of the program.
“Thank you very much to PT TIMAH Tbk for organizing this activity. I hope the Timah Teaching Program continues so that more teachers can benefit from this wonderful initiative,” she said.
PT TIMAH Tbk also encourages students to continue developing their skills by supporting their participation in various academic and non-academic competitions.
All these efforts reflect the strong commitment of PT TIMAH Tbk to improving the future of education—from infrastructure development and scholarship access to teacher competency enhancement and student achievement programs.
Through these consistently implemented initiatives, PT TIMAH Tbk hopes to make a meaningful contribution to shaping a smart, high-character young generation ready to build a more advanced future for the Bangka Belitung Islands. (*)
