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.