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Oki Satria Buana is an educator who has dedicated his life to improving education for the Suku Anak Dalam community. Coming from a humble background, he chose to teach in remote areas to provide children with the opportunity to learn. His efforts have inspired many to support the advancement of education in rural regions.
Oki’s tireless commitment has brought about significant change in the Suku Anak Dalam community, particularly in Gading Jaya village, Tabir Selatan sub-district, and Mentawak village, Nalo Tantan sub-district, both located in Jambi Province. With unwavering spirit and determination, Oki Satria continues to strive towards the dream of providing quality education to children from these isolated communities.
Mr. Oki has devoted more than nine years to the nature school supported by PT SAL, a subsidiary of Astra Agro in Jambi Province. He has a deep understanding of the significant challenges faced by the Suku Anak Dalam community in accessing education. The main obstacles include their remote locations, limited infrastructure, and a culture that strongly adheres to local traditions. Despite these challenges, Mr. Oki remains committed to improving education for his students, finding numerous ways to overcome the difficulties with the help of PT SAL.
Mr. Oki teaches a total of 30 students: 18 in the Temenggung Ngepas group and 12 in the Temenggung Sikar group. His achievements in helping these children enhance their reading, writing, and arithmetic skills are remarkable. Notably, seven of his students have expressed interest in continuing their education at the elementary school level. One student even won a silver medal in the swimming competition held during the O2SN event at the Tabir Selatan sub-district level. This particular student is from the Temenggung Ngepas group and resides in SAD housing near Gading Jaya village, participating in a remote class program initiated by PT SAL in collaboration with SDN 250 Merangin.
PT SAL’s CSR Education Program offers school facilities and teacher training. This includes pedagogical training, the use of learning media, and curriculum development tailored to the needs of Suku Anak Dalam students. In addition to these educational initiatives, PT SAL also provides food (PMT), books, stationery, school uniforms, scholarships, and the construction of supporting facilities such as libraries and learning studios.
PT SAL is committed to providing continuous financial and non-financial support to this nature school for Suku Anak Dalam. PT SAL Administrator Rian Rizaldi stated that collaboration with various stakeholders—including local governments, non-governmental organizations, and universities—forms a collective effort to enhance the quality of education for Suku Anak Dalam and the surrounding village communities.
“Fortunately, I was allowed by PT SAL to become one of the educators at the Alam school. Because for me, education is the window to the world. Through education, I want Suku Anak Dalam children to have the opportunity to dream and achieve a better future.” said Mr. Oki enthusiastically.
With an empathetic approach, Pak Oki serves as both a teacher and role model, winning the hearts of children and the surrounding community. He effectively combines modern teaching methods with the local cultural practices of the Suku Anak Dalam community, making education more relevant and engaging for the children. As a result, more and more children are beginning to appreciate the importance of education.
Mr. Oki’s dedication has not gone unnoticed. Various stakeholders, including the local government, social institutions, and the private sector, have started to show their support. It is hoped that these efforts will accelerate educational progress within the Suku Anak Dalam community.
In the context of National Teacher’s Day 2024, the Merangin Regency government awarded Mr. Oki Satria for his dedication as a teacher in Suku Anak Dalam schools. This award recognizes his significant contributions and hard work in nurturing the younger generation in these remote communities.
“I would like to thank the Merangin Regional Government for this award on Teacher’s Day. This appreciation motivates me to continue my work. I am also grateful to PT SAL for providing me with the opportunity to make a greater impact. To me, being a teacher is not just a job; every student, including those from the SAD community, is special,” said Mr. Oki emotionally.
Mr. Oki Satria’s commitment serves as a reminder that significant changes can start from small but meaningful steps. He is a true inspiration, demonstrating that sincerity and hard work can create a brighter future, even in the most remote areas.
Source: jambieekspres.co.id
