Contributing to RI students' future
Contributing to RI students' future
It was in the middle of the lunch hour, but they continued clicking away on their computers. They were fascinated by the immense flow of information and the various possibilities via the Internet search engine. In their enthusiasm, they had indeed forgotten all about their hunger.
"In line with today's advancements, mastering information technology is a must if one wants to get ahead in his or her career. That is one of the reasons we have included computer operating skills in our curriculum," said Hermin Budiarsi, the principal of SMA Negeri 1, a state high school in Gading Rejo subdistrict, Tanggamus regency, Lampung province.
Hermin Budiarsi was one of eight teachers from Gading Rejo that participated in a training session for operating computers provided by PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BCA) from July 12 through July 14, 2004 in Jakarta. Five of the teachers were from SMA Negeri 1, while the other three, including the principal, were teachers of the state secondary school, SMP Negeri 1. Both schools are located in Gading Rejo. The training was made possible by cooperation between BCA and PT Microsoft Indonesia. Among the training subjects were learning how to work with Microsoft Windows XP system, Microsoft Office and the Internet.
The training seminar was part of the aid provided by BCA through its Bakti BCA program to junior high and high schools in Gading Rejo in the form of a computer laboratory that includes 11 computers and other supporting devices. For Gading Rejo high school, wireless Internet access using the V-sat communications satellite has also been provided.
Bakti BCA program is a continuous and ongoing program for students at several schools. The selected teachers of the schools, including the principals, are provided with the necessary training so that they can transfer the knowledge to their students. For Bakti BCA program, other supporting partners are Hewlett-Packard Indonesia, PT Rintis Sejahtera and PT Microsoft Indonesia.
Among the numerous benefits of information technology, the teachers realize that by using the Internet students can more readily get a wealth of information to expand their horizons and knowledge. The only place where one can find internet access in the entire subdistrict is at Gading Rejo high school, thanks to the corporate sponsors. "Even in the towns in Tanggamus regency, there are only a few places to access the Internet," said Hermin Budiarsi.
He said that the students did not mind spending extra hours studying, while learning how to operate the computers that have been made available by BCA for more than six months now. They are, in fact, very enthusiastic although they have to spend four extra hours per week on the subject.
Umi Kursiati, junior high school principal at SMPN 1 in Gading Rejo agreed, and said that although students at her school had not been given the Internet as a subject, they were taught other basic computer operating programs. Just like their high school counterparts, the students are also very eager to learn more about the power of computers.
Prior to Bakti BCA program in Lampung province, the bank had also implemented similar programs in Gunung Kidul regency, Yogyakarta province. For Lampung, BCA has also provided aid for other schools, including five public elementary and two junior high schools in Tanggamus regency. The bank selects schools with high achievement levels and the aid provided matches the school's requirements to optimize benefits of the aid. The Gading Rejo high school, for example, was the winner of the Olympiade Informatika competition (a competition of information technology) held in Lampung province and it also represented the Lampung province for a national level competition in Balikpapan. A number of the school's students have also won awards in mathematics competitions conducted by the province's state university, Universitas Negeri Lampung.
"This training has broadened our knowledge. It's all for the benefit of our students' future," said Jumiran, the computer teacher at Gading Rejo high school.
It is the kind of future that Bakti BCA program hopes to shape.