Batangtoru, 21 June 2022 – To create quality human resources in the agricultural field, the operator of Martabe Gold Mine, PT Agincourt Resources (PTAR), launched a Development Program of the Integrated Agricultural Vocational High Schools (Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan or SMK) in Batangtoru Sub-district and Muara Batangtoru Sub-district, South Tapanuli, North Sumatra. The fund allocated by PTAR for the program in the first year reached IDR 900 million.
PTAR collaborated with the Centre for the Deve
Agincourt Resources took a group photo with acting Head of Padangsidimpuan Education Office Branch Benny Damanik, and representatives of the Centre for the Development of Quality Assurance for Vocational Education of Agriculture, Head of Batangtoru Sub-district, Vocational School 1 Batangtoru, Vocational School 1 Muara Batangtoru, after signing the MoU of the Development of the Integrated Agricultural Vocational School, Monday June 20,2022.
Batangtoru, 21 June 2022 – To create quality human resources in the agricultural field, PT Agincourt Resources (PTAR), the operator of Martabe Gold Mine, launched a Development Program of the Integrated Agricultural Vocational High Schools (Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan or SMK) in Batangtoru Sub-district and Muara Batangtoru Sub-district, South Tapanuli, North Sumatra. The funds allocated by PTAR for the program in the first year were IDR 900 million.
PTAR collaborated with the Centre for the Development of Quality Assurance for Vocational Education (Balai Besar Pengembangan Penjaminan Mutu Pendidikan Vokasi/BBPPMPV) of Agriculture Cianjur to implement the program for 3 years. The Development Program of the Integrated Agricultural SMK in Batangtoru and Muara Batangtoru is the first program for BBPPMPV in agriculture throughout North Sumatra.
PTAR General Manager Operations, Rahmat Lubis, emphasized the future:
Improvement of quality education access is key to sustainable community development, import for meeting local community aspirations and an important part of PTAR’s community development program.
The Development Program of Agricultural SMK is part of PTAR’s commitment and Master Plan of the Community Development and Empowerment Program to give lasting benefit to the communities around the mine. The implementation of the program started with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding among BBPPMPV of Agriculture, Head of Sidimpuan Education Office Branch, and PTAR. The signing ceremony was held at SMKN 1 Batangtoru, Monday, 20 June 2022.
PTAR Community Development Manager Rohani Simbolon said with the combined support of the government, the seriousness of the schools, and PTAR’s contribution, these Agricultural Vocational Schools can produce high-quality graduates in the agricultural sector who can be use their knowledge to build the region:
We believe that this program will help prepare the Integrated Agricultural Vocational School to become a vibrant centre for vocational education and training in the agricultural field.
Vocational education development is listed in Presidential Instruction No. 9 Year 2016 regarding the Revitalization of Vocational High Schools to Improve the Quality and Competitiveness of Indonesian Human Resources. PTAR’s support is meant to reinforce government programs in developing vocational education in line with the graduates’ competency needs in the Business World, the Industrial World, and World of Work generally.
After signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, a workshop was held with the theme “Understanding Reinforcement of Vocational Education Policy and Development Program Design of the Integrated Agricultural SMKN.” The 5-day workshop was attended by school supervisors, principals, teachers, and also partners of Dudika. Part of the discussion was the three skills targets for Vocational School 1 Batangtoru and Vocational School 1 Muara Batangtoru:
Agribusiness in the Agricultural Product Processing
Agribusiness in the Plantation Crops
Agribusiness in the Food Crops and Horticulture
Iip Ichsanudin, Field Coordinator of Program, Data, and Partnership of BBPPMPV in Agriculture, said this program is beneficial in developing excellent and quality Human Resources in the agricultural field.
Because Human Resources sufficiency is a regional and national investment and the foundation for realizing Golden Indonesia in 2045, we mustn’t stop at the ceremony merely, but must accelerate so that Vocational School 1 Batangtoru and Vocational School 1 Muara Batangtoru can become the epicentre of agricultural development in South Tapanuli.
In addition, Benny Damanik, acting Head of Padangsidimpuan Education Office Branch, said the Integrated Agricultural Vocational Schools can be a solution for the problems faced in South Tapanuli, namely the limited ability to farm among young generation as while approximately 80% of people’s livelihoods in South Tapanuli depend on the agricultural sector, this is mostly to produce raw rubber at 5,449 hectares and oil palm of 2,118 hectares and rice-paddy of 1,948 hectares. He looked to the future:
Thus, I hope this program can read the local wisdom, encourage many students to learn good capability, and to diversify agricultural output in South Tapanuli.
Agincourt’s Other Education Programs
PT Agincourt Resources’ commitment to the expansion of access and quality of education in South Tapanuli is very high. This can be seen from the number of educational programs, such as Scholarship of Martabe Prestasi, vocational school development, improvement for teacher capacity and empowerment, educational facilities and infrastructures support, quality and management improvement for Children Reading Garden (Taman Baca Anak) and Sopo Daganak.
Agincourt Resources, BBPPMPV of Agriculture, Sidimpuan Education Office Branch, representatives of Batangtoru sub-district, and principals attend launching of Integrated Agricultural Vocational School in Batangtoru, Monday June 6,2022.
(left to right) Field Coordinator of Program, Data, and Partnership of BBPPMPV of Agriculture, Iip Ichsanudin; PTAR Community Development Manager, Rohani Simbolon; and Plt. Head of Padangsidimpuan Education Office Branch, Benny Damanik signed the MoU of Development of the Integrated Agricultural SMK in SMKN 1 Batangtoru and SMKN 1 Muara Batangoru, Monday (20/6).
Photo 3: PT Agincourt Resources took a group photo with the representatives of BBPPMPV of Agriculture, Plt. Head of Padangsidimpuan Education Office Branch, Benny Damanik, representatives of SMKN 1 Batangtoru, representatives of SMKN 1 Muara Batangtoru, representatives of Head of Batangtoru Sub-district, after signing the MoU of the Development of the Integrated Agricultural SMK, Monday (20/6). (Doc: PTAR)
