PANGKALPINANG -- Islamic boarding schools play an important role in shaping the younger generation. Recognizing this role, PT TIMAH (Persero) Tbk continues to contribute to the development of religious education through various Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs.
PT TIMAH's support is part of the company's efforts to expand access to education while helping Islamic boarding schools create comfortable, safe, and supportive learning environments that foster character development among young people, particularly Islamic boarding school students, known as santri.
Through its CSR programs, PT TIMAH has provided assistance to several Islamic boarding schools across its operational areas. The assistance includes funding for the construction of student dormitories at Tahfidzul Qur'an Al-Mansyur Islamic Boarding School in Balunijuk Village, Merawang District, Bangka Regency, as well as support for the construction and improvement of learning facilities at Tahfizhul Qur'an Permata Belitung Islamic Boarding School in Tanjungpandan, Belitung Regency.
Tahfidzul Qur'an Al-Mansyur Islamic Boarding School was established in 2011 and has grown from a Quranic learning center (TPA) into an educational institution offering several levels of education, ranging from early childhood education to junior high school. The school has also produced hundreds of Quran memorizers in Bangka Belitung.
Ali Mutakin, Chairman of the Al-Mansyur Foundation, said that developing educational facilities is essential to supporting the school's growth and expanding educational opportunities for students.
According to him, financial constraints remain one of the challenges preventing communities from accessing education. Therefore, support from various stakeholders, including the business sector, is needed to ensure that educational institutions can continue to develop and reach more students.
"Based on my observations, the high school dropout rate is not solely caused by children's lack of interest in learning, but also by limited access to education and financial constraints. We consistently provide scholarships to 20 male and female Quran memorizers every year," he said recently.
He expressed his appreciation for PT TIMAH's support in improving educational facilities at the boarding school. Previously, the foundation also received assistance from the company for the construction of SDIT Al-Mansyur in 2017.
Similar support has been provided to Tahfizhul Qur'an Permata Belitung Islamic Boarding School. The assistance distributed in 2026 is intended to support the construction and improvement of classrooms and learning facilities, enabling formal education and Quran memorization activities to be carried out more effectively.
Nur Khotim, Chairperson of the Tahfizhul Qur'an Permata Belitung Islamic Boarding School Foundation, said the school, located on Jalan Permata 2, Gang Berlian, Air Merbau, Tanjungpandan, currently has approximately 45 students. In addition to formal education, the school also offers afternoon Quranic learning programs for children.
She explained that adequate classroom facilities are among the school's primary needs to support educational activities and student development. The company's assistance is expected to help the school complete the necessary facilities while creating opportunities for more children to study and memorize the Quran within their own communities.
"Our goal in establishing this Quran memorization boarding school is to nurture future generations of Quran memorizers. We also want children in the surrounding community to have a place where they can learn and memorize the Quran without having to leave their hometown," she said.
In addition to supporting the construction of classrooms and student accommodations, PT TIMAH also contributes to providing facilities that support religious education activities.
One such initiative is assistance for the construction of a mosque at Madinatunnajah Tahfizh Al-Qur'an Islamic Boarding School, managed by the Khodijah Center Madani Foundation in Pangkalpinang.
The mosque is intended to serve not only as a place of worship but also as a space for educational activities and character development among students.
Samiah, Chairperson of the Khodijah Center Madani Foundation, said the boarding school currently accommodates 73 female students, while its afternoon Quranic learning program is attended by approximately 100 children.
She expressed her appreciation for PT TIMAH's support in developing the school's educational and religious facilities. The company's assistance is expected to accelerate the completion of the mosque, allowing students and surrounding communities to benefit from the facility.
Beyond physical infrastructure development, PT TIMAH also supports efforts to enhance students' knowledge and skills through educational activities.
One such initiative involved providing fire safety education and basic firefighting training to male and female students at Darul Furqan Islamic Boarding School in Sawang Laut Village, West Kundur District, Karimun Regency, Riau Islands Province.
The activity, conducted in collaboration with PT TIMAH's Kundur Area Division during the Islamic Boarding School Orientation Program (MPLP) for the 2026/2027 academic year, provided students with basic knowledge of potential fire hazards, an introduction to fire extinguishers, and appropriate procedures for responding safely and effectively to emergencies.
H. Choirur Rosid, Head of Darul Furqan Islamic Boarding School, expressed his appreciation for the educational initiative. According to him, safety awareness should be introduced at an early age so that students can recognize potential risks and understand the appropriate actions to take when facing emergency situations. (*)
