Pangkalpinang – Perusahaan Umum Jaminan Kredit Indonesia (Jamkrindo) held the 2017 Nusantara Student Introduction selection for the Bangka Belitung Islands Province in Pangkalpinang on Monday.
According to the Head of Jamkrindo Pangkalpinang Branch, Boy Herwin Nur, 35 outstanding students from seven regencies and cities in Bangka Belitung Province participated in the selection event.
"Out of the 35 students selected today, only 20 students will be chosen to participate in the Nusantara Student Introduction program, which will take place for seven days in Bandung, West Java, during the third week of July 2017. This includes 18 students from general schools (high schools/vocational schools) and two students from special schools (SLB)," he said after opening the provincial selection.
Boy Herwin explained that this program is part of the State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) for the Nation initiative, in commemoration of Indonesia's Independence Day on August 17, 2017. The selection was organized through a collaboration between Jamkrindo Pangkalpinang Branch and the Education Office of Bangka Belitung Province.
"This is a program initiated by the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises aimed at fostering love and pride among students as Indonesian citizens, which is beginning to fade due to the influence of foreign cultures through social media and other channels," he said.
Boy Herwin Nur added that through this program, delegates from Bangka Belitung Province would have the opportunity to introduce their region's tourism potential, arts, culture, history, culinary, and local characteristics to students from other regions.
He hoped that this activity would instill pride in the students, showing them that the nation possesses diversity and richness through real understanding, carried out through an exchange of information and experiences among students.
"We hope this program runs well and successfully, culminating in the peak event on August 17, 2017," he added.
Saiful Bahri, Head of the Curriculum and Assessment Division for Vocational High Schools at the Education Office of Bangka Belitung, praised the Nusantara Student Introduction program initiated by Perum Jamkrindo.
"This is a very good program from the government that empowers BUMN to contribute to education, especially for outstanding students in remote areas," he said.
According to Saiful, through this program, students as ambassadors from their schools and regions can share knowledge and information about arts, culture, social life, and the economy, strengthening the sense of brotherhood and unity within the nation.
"By getting to know each other, students will strengthen their sense of brotherhood, and the values of unity will emerge among the children of this nation," he added.
This activity, part of the BUMN for the Nation program, is always met with enthusiasm by students across Indonesia. Through this program, students can gain a deeper understanding of the diverse cultures of the archipelago, recognizing that there are cultural differences between regions. As a result, their understanding of the nation grows wider.
This program will continue as a commitment from BUMN, which has been running for the past two years, with the goal of introducing students to understand and appreciate the nation's cultures, enjoy its natural beauty, and learn from the potential of natural resources and the nation's ancestors. The hope is that participating students will gain positive experiences and reflect on them for their life and future.