Pertamina helps visually impaired children access digital learning
Jakarta (ANTARA) - PT Pertamina (Persero) has provided smartphones to 30 visually impaired children in four regions: East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and North Maluku.
Pertamina Foundation President Director Agus Mashud S Asngari said in a statement in Jakarta on Friday that the assistance, entitled “Beasiswa Sobat Istimewa: Digital Netra Setara”, would open the door to a wider world of knowledge for visually impaired children by helping them access lesson materials, find information and learn more independently.
On Friday (9 October), 10 visually impaired students at State Special Schools 1 and 2 in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, received smartphones equipped with accessibility applications to support their learning.
Two beneficiaries, Rendi and Nindi, then took part in the handover ceremony during the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia 2026 events at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, on Saturday (10 October 2026).
The handover was accompanied by guidance on using the smartphones and supporting applications so that the devices could be used in ways suited to the recipients’ needs.
With the TalkBack screen reader and Indonesian-language text-to-speech technology, the smartphones are designed to help students access digital information through audio.
The technology can support learning activities, from reading digital materials to using educational applications.
“We want to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn and develop. For visually impaired children, access to technology suited to their needs can open more doors to knowledge and independence,” he said.
Through Digital Netra Setara, Pertamina aims to provide support that goes beyond distributing devices, including guidance so that students can benefit from them in their everyday learning.
Students will also receive training, while their teachers and mentors will be equipped with an understanding of how assistive technology can support the education of visually impaired students.
The training covers basic navigation using TalkBack, communication and typing, the use of educational applications and Learning Management Systems (LMS), as well as digital safety.
Support is planned to continue for approximately three months to help students build their digital skills gradually.
With this approach, the assistance is expected to have a more lasting impact: not only making devices available, but also helping students learn how to use them for education and daily activities more independently.
“I’m happy to receive this smartphone. I hope it will help me study, read lesson materials and gain more knowledge. I want to keep learning and achieve my ambitions,” said beneficiary Izron Harsan Sahilin.
In Central Lombok, six students at State Special School 1 and four students at State Special School 2 received assistance.
Agus added that through Digital Netra Setara, Pertamina and Pertamina Foundation hoped more visually impaired children would be able to access knowledge, develop skills and pursue their ambitions with greater confidence.
“An inclusive future begins when every child is not only given the opportunity to learn, but also supported to grow and shape their own future,” Agus said.