Rahimin, a 26-year-old young man, makes a living through various odd jobs at Tanjung Enim Market. From working as a motorcycle taxi driver to serving as a parking attendant, he does whatever it takes to support his family's needs.A decade ago, Rahimin’s dream of finishing high school was cut short due to his parents’ financial struggles. Yet behind life’s hardships, he held on to a big dream—to change his fate and build a better future for his family.
A glimmer of hope appeared when Rahimin came across information on social media about the Ayo Sekolah Plus program, initiated by PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) in collaboration with the Cendikia Unggul Foundation. This program provides access to Package A, B, and C equivalent education for school dropouts who still have the passion and determination to continue learning, with all costs fully covered by PTBA.
With renewed hope, Rahimin registered and was eventually awarded the Ayo Sekolah Plus scholarship. It reignited a dream he once thought was lost.
"I want to get a decent job. As the head of the family, I hope to earn an income that’s enough to meet our household needs. I have two children now—my eldest is in kindergarten, and the youngest is just six months old. I want a better future for them," said Rahimin.
Between his various odd jobs at Tanjung Enim Market, Rahimin now attends Package C equivalency classes at the Cendikia Unggul Learning and Activity Center (PKBM).
He said that securing a permanent job had been difficult, as most job vacancies required at least a high school diploma or its equivalent. By completing the Package C equivalency program, he hopes to improve his chances of landing a stable and better-paying job.
"Many friends share information about job openings, especially in mining. But the main requirement is usually a high school diploma or equivalent. That’s why I’m pursuing Package C," he said.
The Ayo Sekolah Plus program has also reignited the dreams of Sherli Oktavia, a 20-year-old woman from Tanjung Enim. Sherli was forced to drop out of school during junior high, putting her dream of becoming a teacher on hold.
It was through a social media announcement that Sherli’s mother learned about the Ayo Sekolah Plus program, initiated by PTBA to support the education of school dropouts. Seeing this opportunity, her mother encouraged Sherli reach her dreams again.
"My mother encouraged me to register for the Ayo Sekolah Plus program. I want to pursue the dreams I haven’t been able to achieve," she said.
Sherli knows the road to her dreams won't be easy, but she has taken a bold first step. "I want to continue my education to higher levels and pursue my dream of becoming a teacher," she said with determination.
Launched in 2024, the Ayo Sekolah Plus program is PTBA's initiative to reduce the dropout rate and ensure that children in the surrounding operational areas have access to quality education.
To date, PTBA has awarded Ayo Sekolah Plus scholarships to 100 school dropouts, enabling them to pursue equivalent education. This includes 3 individuals for Package A, 34 for Package B, and 63 for Package C.
Dedi Saptaria Rosa, VP of Sustainability at PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA), emphasized that education is a crucial long-term social investment, one that prepares a generation of excellence and helps break the cycle of poverty.
"PTBA is committed to supporting initiatives that enhance community welfare, and education is one of the key areas. Our collaboration with the Cendekia Unggul Foundation and PKBP (Educational Learning Activity Center) aims to reduce the dropout rate through the Ayo Sekolah Plus program, which encourages children who have dropped out of school to return to their studies," said Dedi.
The implementation of the Ayo Sekolah Plus program aligns with the government's Asta Cita, particularly point 4, which focuses on developing human resources (HR) through improving the quality of education.
In addition to Ayo Sekolah Plus, PTBA runs several programs aimed at improving the quality of public education. These include the Ayo Sekolah program, which provides scholarship packages to underprivileged students; the Scholarship for Students Around Bukit Asam (Bidiksiba), which helps high school graduates from disadvantaged families in areas around the company pursue higher education; and the Gasing Method training, designed to enhance the numeracy skills of teachers and elementary school students.
