Education has a significant role in life as a centre of knowledge, skills, character building, opening employment opportunities, and the development of a society.
SMK Negeri 1 Kaway XVI, located in Padang Sikabu village in West Aceh District, is one example of a formal education school equivalent to a senior high school.
The school itself is inseparable from the supervision of educators. Thanks to his students, Junaidi is an exemplary educator who loves his profession. He also managed to channel his interest and talent for agribusiness into education.
Junaidi is a teacher and chronicler of the birth of SMKN 1 Kaway XVI in his area. Before serving as a teacher for 10 years at this school, Junaidi was also a SMKN 1 Kaway XVI student.
“This SMKN 1 Kaway XVI school was specially built by PT KTS Astra Agro 18 years ago. Aside from being a teacher, I also went to school here and was even one of the first batch of students here,” said Junaidi, a teacher of the Agriculture and Plantation Department at SMKN 1.
PT KTS or Karya Tanah Subur is a subsidiary of PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk (Astra Agro) located in West Aceh, approximately 20 minutes away from SMKN 1, the company’s ring 1. PT KTS established this school in 2006 for Agriculture and Plantation vocational schools.
“In the past, this was the first agricultural vocational school in West Aceh. 2006, when this school was inaugurated, I graduated from junior high school and was very interested in attending SMKN 1 Kaway XVI,” he said.
Junaidi said he was interested in agriculture and plantation vocational schools because, at that time, plantation companies were one of the most popular companies in his community. He dreamed of graduating from SMK and then going to college with a harmonized major so that he could work at one of the plantation companies.
However, as an ordinary person, I know that ideals sometimes do not necessarily match the path He prepared. Although Pak Naidi, as he is often called by his students, has not had the opportunity to work in a plantation company as he had hoped, his path is more noble, namely as an introduction to the nation’s successors through the knowledge of agriculture and plantations that he has carried so far.
“Before becoming a teacher, I used to do odd jobs to help my parents until finally, the principal of SMKN 1 Kaway, where I went to school, suddenly offered me to teach; of course, I wanted to,” said Naidu.
He admits that he did not enjoy his teaching profession initially because he thought this was not his field. Over time, his students opened his heart to love his current job, so he managed to survive as a teacher at SMKN 1 Kaway XVI for the last 10 years.
Sukma Murni, the current Principal of SMKN 1 Kaway, added that Junaidi is a role model for the students as one of the key people in the school’s history because of the knowledge he pursues. Despite working against his passion, Junaidi quickly adapted to the system and even succeeded in becoming one of the favourite teachers in the school.
“Apart from his brilliant mind, Mr Naidi is very liked by the children as he is diligent and friendly, especially when teaching; he cares for his student as if they were his children,” said Sukma.
Synergizing Through Education Pillars
SMKN 1 Kaway XVI has two majors based on agriculture and plantations: Agribusiness of Horticultural Plants (ATH) and Agribusiness of Agricultural Plants (ATP). Junaidi teaches specifically in the ATP department from class X to class XII of the SMK. The total number of students he teaches currently reaches hundreds, considering that in West Aceh. However, fewer enthusiasts want to enter vocational schools than before; SMKN 1 Kaway XVI is still one of the favourite schools.
Naidi, who is now married and has two children, says he has learned many lessons from being a teacher. He admits that his personality at school, which used to nurture many students, made him wiser. His nurturing nature at school carried over to his home, which also positively impacted his parenting style towards his own children.
“In addition to the attitude of being a teacher being carried over to home, I also feel that I have more time to take care of and play with my children; maybe if I didn’t work as a teacher, I would be busier and have no time for family, especially children,” she said.
Even though Naidi continued, he had never thought of going into education; he is very grateful that even in education, he can still channel his interests and talents in agriculture and plantations.
“Moreover, I feel like I can still be in the atmosphere of a plantation company, such as PT KTS, which is engaged in oil palm plantations. This vocational school is under their guidance, thus our frequent interaction. We often share knowledge and learn from each other with the team at PT KTS,” said Naidu.
Ashar Khoirurozi, CSR Assistant of PT KTS, confirmed that PT KTS and SMKN 1 Kaway XVI work together in various activities. Apart from the fact that this school was built and assisted by PT KTS, it is also the company’s commitment to sustainability policies.
SMKN 1 Kaway XVI is one of the educational pillars targeted by the corporate responsibility program. PT KTS always provides regular assistance to the school workforce and scholarships for outstanding students.
“We are often involved in activities at SMKN 1 Kaway XVI. For example, every time the expertise competency test is, the school trusts the KTS team as assessors; we come to the school, and it is not uncommon for the school to visit the office,” said Ashar.
PT KTS has always been the first choice for SMKN 1 Kaway XVI students as a place for Field Work Practice before entering the workforce. Many graduates of this SMK have been recruited as employees at PT KTS; while, students who attend SMKN 1 are often the children of workers and employees at PT KTS.
“Mutual relationship is the term where we rely on each other and work well together. Of course, with the hope of advancing society through education, in line with our CSR pillars in the field of education and according to our motto, prosper with the nation,” he added.
