MIND ID Group Sustainable Commitment, Strengthening Access to Public Education

Jakarta, 30 May 2022 – MIND ID or Mining Industry Indonesia, the Holding State-Owned Enterprise for the Mining Industry, with members PT Aneka Tambang Tbk, PT Bukit Asam Tbk, PT Freeport Indonesia, PT Inalum (Persero) dan PT Timah Tbk, continues with its commitment to conduct social and environmental responsibility program in the field of education, from scholarships, promoting capacity of teachers, strengthening access to education, to infrastructure in the surrounding operational areas of the MIND ID Group.

MIND ID Director for Institutional Relations, Dany Amrul, said that “Education is one of the important aspects of MIND ID’s Sustainable Pathway, as this is in line with the achievements of the Sustainable Development Goal 4, ensuring the inclusive and equitable quality of education as well as opening the opportunities for learning throughout the lives of many.  The MIND ID Group continues to develop educational programs in line with the needs of the communities in the surrounding areas of operations.

MIND ID is optimistic the promotion of human resource quality in the surrounding areas of operations of MIND ID Members will continually improve.  In ANTAM, in 2021, the Company provided education access to the communities in the surrounding areas of all Business Units, from elementary to higher level (university) education.

Bukit Asam has implemented educational programs such as the Bidiksiba Program, Ayo Sekolah (Let’s Go to School) Program and Gernas Tastaka, the National Movement for the Eradication of Mathematics illiteracy.  The Bidiksiba Program is a scholarship program provided to graduates of senior high schools or equivalent from underprivileged families around Bukit Asam, to continue to universities.

Since 2010 to 2021, 286 participants have enjoyed the benefits of the Bidiksiba Program, while 98 are still studying and 84 graduates have successfully obtained jobs in various business sectors, including those who are working in the company, first and second level subsidiaries, and contractors of the Company.

Bukit Asam has disbursed 356 scholarship packages for underprivileged students in its Ayo Sekolah program.  While Gernas Tastaka raised the mathematics competency of elementary school teachers selected by the Muara Enim Education and Culture Agency in the Muara Enim Regency.

“To date, 80 mathematics teachers of Elementary Schools in Muara Enim Regency have taken part in the ToT or Training of Trainer activities under the Gernas Tastaka program,” Dany explained.

Freeport Indonesia initiated the boarding school scheme in its education program. The purpose of this program is to raise literacy, numeracy and the number of schools participating, through the support of quality education facilities and/or infrastructure; and ensure girls and boys have equal access to quality education.

The program, which began in 2006, have targeted 956 students.  Boarding schools are equipped with modern supporting facilities with a focus on local customs-based character development of the Papuans. This program targets the achievement of A accredited level for Elementary and Junior High Schools. 

In North Sumatra, Inalum is strengthening internet infrastructure for students at SMPN 2 Pintu Pohan. The the tower and wifi network is expected to support the school with 10 teachers and 135 students to support the teaching and learning process via the internet. With the assistance of teachers, the students would penetrate the leading high schools in the Toba district, North Sumatra.

TIMAH is also committed to education in the Bangka Belitung region with the initiation of its scholarship program and infrastructure assistance.  The scholarship program for the State High School 1 Pemali (Pemali Boarding School) is one of the efforts to develop strong and excellent human resources and aligned to the vision-mission as well as the business strategy of the Company.

“This scholarship program is specifically designed to raise the quality of education, with each process being monitored and improved,” said Dany. The recruitment process of Timah’s Scholarship Class constitutes five stages, from socialization, administrative selection, academic potential test, psycho test and interview, and continued with health test, subsequently entering the boarding school at the Timah Learning Center in Pemali, Bangka Regency.

The Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 is one of the main footholds to strengthen efforts which have been conducted to date, driving the capacity level of the communities in the surrounding areas of mines, both individually as well as collectively, with the aim of achieving improved, independent and sustainable lives of the communities in the surrounding mining areas.