Batangtoru, August 10, 2022 – PT Agincourt Resources (PTAR), the operator of the Martabe Gold Mine, has awarded the Martabe Prestasi scholarship for the 2022/2023 academic year to 288 academically promising students from underprivileged families in Tapanuli Selatan, North Sumatra.
In the sixth year of the Martabe Gold Mine Scholarship Program, PTAR has allocated funds totaling Rp1.87 billion. Since the program’s inception in 2017, PTAR has disbursed a total of Rp5.54 billion to 1,255 beneficiaries.
PTAR Deputy President Director, Ruli Tanio, expressed gratitude to the outstanding students who have strived to secure the Martabe Prestasi scholarship. He encouraged the students to remain persistent in their pursuit of knowledge and to leverage current technology to produce valuable work that benefits many.
“At PTAR, we are committed to fostering community development in various aspects, such as health and education. We will continue to enhance our contributions and value-add to the local community,” said Ruli.
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The Martabe Prestasi scholarship award ceremony took place at Sopo Daganak, Batangtoru District, Tapanuli Selatan, on August 10, 2022. The event was attended by PTAR General Manager of Operations Rahmat Lubis, PTAR Senior Manager of Community Christine Pepah, Acting Head of the Sidimpuan Education Office Al Benny Hevi Damanik, and the Head of the Tapanuli Selatan Education Agency Arman Pasaribu.North Sumatra Education Council member Aripay Tambunan, Batangtoru MUI Chairman Hotlan Dalimunthe, and education observer Ok Hazmi Siregar also participated, while PTAR Deputy President Director Ruli Tanio joined virtually.
PTAR General Manager of Operations, Rahmat Lubis, stated that Martabe Prestasi is one of the Community Development and Empowerment (PPM) programs in the education sector aimed at improving the quality and accessibility of education for academically gifted students who are deeply committed to attaining higher levels of education.
“Martabe Prestasi commenced in 2017 with beneficiaries in two districts: Batangtoru and Muara Batangtoru. With a spirit of change, starting in 2022, the scope of beneficiaries at the high school and university levels encompasses the entire Tapanuli Selatan Regency,” said Rahmat.
Increasing Number of Scholarship Recipients
Despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, PTAR’s commitment to improving the quality of education in the community remains unwavering. This is evident as the value of the Martabe Prestasi scholarships in 2022 increased by 24% to IDR 1.87 billion compared to the previous year.
This year, the number of beneficiaries rose by 17% to 288 students. Among these, 206 students, or 72% of the total beneficiaries, are new applicants this year, consisting of 196 regular scholarship recipients and 10 special scholarship recipients. Additionally, 82 students received continuing scholarships, which include 56 regular scholarship recipients and 26 special scholarship recipients.
The increase in the number of scholarship beneficiaries has been acknowledged by Aripay Tambunan from the North Sumatra Education Council. He stated that the higher the number of scholarship recipients, the more educated graduates there will be to develop the South Tapanuli region.
Christine Pepah, Senior Manager of Community, explained that all scholarship recipients are categorized based on their level of education and benefits. The breakdown includes 93 elementary school students and 51 junior high school students under the Academic Achievement Award (PPA) category. They will receive educational assistance for the current year amounting to IDR 500,000 for each elementary student and IDR 700,000 for each junior high school student.
“Additionally, 23 high school/equivalent students will receive the regular Sustainable Achievement Award (PPB), and 8 high school students will receive the Special PPB. Each regular PPB recipient at the high school/equivalent level will receive benefits amounting to IDR 3 million per year,” said Christine.
Moreover, 10 students will receive the Sustainable Achievement Award (PBB) for the D3 and S1 levels at public and private universities in South Tapanuli, valued at IDR 6 million per student per year. Furthermore, 19 students in the PBB category for the D3 and S1 levels from public and private universities outside South Tapanuli will receive benefits of IDR 12 million per student per year.
There are also two students who received the PBB for the S1 level at 10 leading national public universities, each graduating in agricultural studies from the University of North Sumatra and management from Diponegoro University. Additionally, 82 students received continuing benefits at the high school to university level for the years 2019-2021. Recipients of the special PBB from high school to university level receive full education costs. Apart from providing scholarships, PTAR will also offer free tutoring programs for ninth-grade junior high school students and twelfth-grade senior high school students majoring in science and social studies, facilitated by a Professional Tutoring Institute. The goal is to create opportunities for graduation from leading public universities and excellent high schools designated by PTAR.
