Scholarships to Improve Citizens’ Education Quality

AS a form of social responsibility towards increasing human resources (HR) in the area of ​​operation, Energy Equity Epic Sengkang Pty. Ltd (EEES) carries out various CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) programs in the field of education on an ongoing basis, especially in the Gilireng District, Wajo Regency, where EEES operates.
The program, which was initiated in 2003, has produced encouraging results for improving the quality of human resources for local residents. A myriad of achievements have been achieved by a number of schools in the gas-producing area. Both at the district level, to the province. The achievements of the last two years are in stark contrast to those of 2003. At that time, educational achievement in Gilireng District was in 14th place in Wajo Regency, or in the last position.

Data from the Wajo District Education Office shows that dozens of years ago, the average national exam (UN) score in this area was only 4.0. However, since the existence of the CSR program in the form of scholarships from EEES, the quality of education in the area which is famous for its predecessor’s heroic actions against the Dutch colonialists has continued to increase every year and even the average National Examination score in Gilireng District has increased to 7.67 – 8.31.
In addition, a number of achievements were also obtained by students in the area known as Bumi Cakkuridi, namely winning a number of competitions at both the district and provincial levels. EEES itself provides scholarships in two forms, namely Achievement Scholarships (BP) and Underprivileged Scholarships (BKM). Achievement Scholarships are given to students who are class winners and who have won educational competitions in the sub-district or district. While the Underprivileged Scholarships are intended for school children whose parents are classified as economically weak.
Until now, EEES annually distributes Achievement Scholarships to around 420 school children from elementary, junior high and vocational schools in the Gilireng District and around 485 school children for Underprivileged Scholarships. The effect of this program is to motivate learning so that it further boosts student achievement. They compete by studying harder to improve their subject scores and seem enthusiastic about participating in competitions. This kind of climate was able to encourage the learning power of school children in general, thereby increasing the average value. Not only students, but students’ parents are also moved to encourage their children to win scholarships.

The provision of Underprivileged Scholarships (BKM) that has been implemented so far has also been effective in preventing dropout rates. Underprivileged children usually take the day off to help their parents make a living during the harvest season. They work as harvest laborers to pay for school. With this BKM program the number of cases like this can be reduced.
Apart from scholarships, the EEES CSR Program has also built a Cakkuridie public library, in the capital of Gilireng District. Not only buildings but furniture and books are prepared. Including providing incentives for library managers. The existence of this library is quite a positive impact in increasing interest in reading as well as being a reference for the community, especially in the fields of agriculture, education and general knowledge. (*)