Malinau, 3 May 2025 - A total of 67 participants from the Long-Distance Non-Formal Education Program for Packages A, B, and C Equivalency took part in the End-of-Semester Exams for the 2024/2025 academic year, held from 1 to 3 May 2025. The participants of this programme are from Paking Village and Harapan Maju Village and had been learning throughout the academic year, following the calendar of the Melati Mentarang Community Learning Center (PKBM Melati Mentarang).

This programme is a collaboration between PKBM Melati Mentarang and PT Kayan Hydropower Nusantara (KHN) as part of KHN’s Corporate Environmental and Social Responsibility (CSER) under the KHN Lestari pillar, which focuses on Education and Youth Development. KHN aims to improve the quality of education in the community and support local workforce development.

Three levels that correspond to the formal education system are included in the programme. The End-of-Semester Exams were taken by 14 participants in Package A (equivalent to primary school), 26 participants in Package B (equivalent to secondary school), and 27 participants in Package C (equivalent to sixth form/college level).

KHN has provided full support for the implementation of this program, including transportation for 18 teachers from PKBM Melati Mentarang to conduct face-to-face learning sessions at the community learning location. In addition, KHN also covered transportation costs for students traveling from both villages to the PKBM site to take the Computer-Based National Assessment and Equivalency Exams.

In his remarks, Mr. Arifin, S.E., M.H., Head of PKBM Melati, expressed his gratitude to KHN for the support given, which enabled the opening of a PKBM class in Paking Village. "I hope the collaboration continues, so that the teaching and learning activities can be sustained," he said.

The same hope was also expressed by Mr. Riung from RT 1, Paking Village, who serves as a class coordinator at the PKBM. “KHN has supported and helped by providing transportation for us to attend the exams from the first day until the end. Hopefully, this activity will continue so that residents of Paking Village and Harapan Maju can pursue their education,” he explained.