Dr. Winarno, M.Pd., smiled proudly, filled with joy as the Head of the Regional Education Office I of East Kalimantan Province. “Children are becoming more creative,” he said briefly.
He believes that initiatives aiming to enhance creativity, such as wall magazine competitions, scientific work contests, and competitions for utilizing palm oil processing waste, are extremely beneficial for school students.
These competitions were recently held at SMKN 3 Penajam Paser Utara (PPU) during the “Sobat Sawit Goes to School” event on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.
This event, abbreviated as SoSwit, was attended by hundreds of students from various schools in PPU Regency, including SMAN 4 PPU, SMKN 4 PPU, MAN 1 Babulu PPU, SMK Muhammadiyah 1 PPU, and SMAN 2 PPU.
The educational program aims to provide balanced information to young people about palm oil while raising environmental awareness through the utilization of palm oil processing byproducts and recycling. Additionally, it fosters creativity and innovation in product development and agribusiness.
The SoSwit event is also designed to promote collaboration between the education and industry sectors, preparing the younger generation to face future challenges.
This initiative is spearheaded by the Indonesian Palm Oil Entrepreneurs Association (GAPKI) through the Positive Campaign Division and the Education Sector Compartment. The activity is fully supported by the Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP), with participation from Astra Agro Group palm oil companies operating in East Kalimantan.
In addition to the competitions, students gained knowledge through interactive talk shows. The enthusiastic atmosphere among students made this event more than just a learning opportunity; it became a platform for promoting literacy and environmental awareness.
Rachmat Perdana Angga, the Head of the East Kalimantan Branch of GAPKI, strongly advocates for education programs like this one. “There is still a lot of misinformation about the palm oil industry. In fact, palm oil makes significant contributions to the economy, society, environment, and renewable energy. Education is crucial for the younger generation to achieve a balanced understanding,” he stated.
Intan Nurcahayani from the Positive Campaign Division of the GAPKI Basic & Secondary Education Compartment also encourages the younger generation to view the palm oil industry from a new perspective. He highlights that this industry offers vast job opportunities across various sectors, including plantations, factories, logistics, management, and downstream industries such as cooking oil, soap, chocolate, cosmetics, and skincare.
“Palm oil is not just a commodity; it is a source of life when managed properly. Young people should not hesitate to explore and participate in it,” he urged.
Nurlaili Sunawardhani, the head of SMKN 3 PPU, welcomed the program positively. She assessed that it benefits both students and teachers by broadening their understanding of career opportunities in the palm oil sector.
“Negative comments about palm oil are often heard, especially in East Kalimantan. However, through this activity, we hope to generate a positive response that highlights the significant benefits of palm oil and showcases how its processing waste can be effectively utilized,” she concluded.
Source: VIVA Borneo
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