Preparing Super Resilient Human Resources from Batang Hari

When discussing Indonesia Emas 2045, public attention often focuses on infrastructure development, industrial zones, investment, or downstream processing. All of that is important. However, I believe Indonesia’s future is actually being determined in much simpler places: primary school classrooms, village integrated health posts (Posyandu), community health centres (Puskesmas), and family rooms where parents accompany their children’s learning. It is in these places that the quality of human resources is shaped. It is here that the demographic bonus will be won or squandered. Indonesia is entering one of the most decisive phases in its development history. In the next two decades, the proportion of the productive age population will reach its peak. This momentum is often referred to as the golden window towards Indonesia Emas 2045. Yet, the history of many countries teaches us that a demographic bonus is not a guarantee of progress. It is merely an opportunity that must be fought for. Countries that successfully harness the demographic bonus are not those with the largest productive-age populations, but those that ensure their people grow up healthy, receive quality education, master relevant skills, and can adapt to changing times. Without this, the demographic bonus can turn into a development burden. This is where I see the role of local government as highly strategic. Indonesia will not win the demographic bonus through national policies alone. The nation’s future is built from thousands of villages, sub-districts, and regencies that strive daily to ensure their children have the opportunity to grow, learn, and develop optimally. We tend to measure development success by what is visible: roads built, bridges inaugurated, or magnificent buildings standing. Yet, the most decisive development is often not immediately visible. Building people takes longer than building infrastructure, but its benefits will be felt across generations. We held this awareness when formulating Batang Hari’s development vision, SuPer TANGGUH (Successful Economy, Leading, Religious, Comfortable, Cooperative, Quality, and Harmonious). Among all the foundational values, one word serves as our anchor: Quality. For us, quality is not merely about improving public service standards, but a determination to produce competitive, professional, and resilient human resources who are also rooted in noble moral values. This spirit aligns with the national agenda that places strengthening education, basic health, and technological adaptation as the foundation towards Indonesia Emas 2045. The choice to prioritise human development also stems from Batang Hari’s own character. The regency possesses significant economic capital for growth. The agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors remain the backbone of the local economy, contributing IDR 12.93 trillion or approximately 45.22 percent to the Gross Regional Domestic Product in 2025. At the same time, Batang Hari has around 182,702 hectares of oil palm plantations and 71,741 hectares of rubber plantations, which are the main source of livelihood for most of the community. However, amidst global economic dynamics, we realise that the future can no longer be built solely by relying on the sale of raw commodities. Regions must dare to make a leap towards an economy that generates added value through downstream processing, innovation, and technology utilisation. Therefore, Batang Hari’s development direction does not stop at increasing production but moves towards creating added value. The emergence of a young generation of farmers utilising mechanisation, digital technology, and data-driven approaches provides optimism that the agricultural sector can become a space for modern entrepreneurs and a driver of the local economy. However, such a transformation is only possible if supported by people with adequate competence. Infrastructure can be built. Technology can be brought in. Investment can flow in. But the ability to think, innovate, and lead change is only born from quality education. That is why the greatest investment is not just in technology, but in people. Economic development and human development must go hand in hand. This is why we place education as the most strategic investment. We often measure educational success by school participation rates or the construction of new classrooms. Yet, the biggest challenge in education today is no longer ensuring children go to school, but ensuring they actually learn. Our children must be able to understand what they read, reason using numbers, solve problems, collaborate, and possess strong character. The world of work they will face in twenty years may be very different from today. Therefore, the ability for lifelong learning is far more important than merely memorising knowledge. On this basis, we place the strengthening of literacy and numeracy as the foundation of learning. The ability to understand information, think logically, and make data-based decisions is the primary provision for the young generation of Batang Hari to compete and become solution creators amidst rapid change. These various efforts have begun to show encouraging results. Literacy and numeracy achievements at the junior secondary school level have surpassed the local government’s targets. However, we realise that this foundation must be built even stronger from primary school level. For us, every improvement in literacy and numeracy is a step towards a brighter future.