Being not far from the center of the capital city of West Sumatra province does not make the Mentawai Islands apart from the problems of the 3T area (Front, Outermost, Disadvantaged). The geographical condition of the Mentawai Islands which is an archipelagic area makes things difficult for the local community. Economic conditions, welfare levels, health facilities, education are very far compared to other mainland areas of West Sumatra. We got this condition when we visited one of the Vocational High Schools in the Mentawai Islands, namely SMK N 1 Mentawai Islands located in Sarineu Village, Sipora Island.
SMK N 1 Mentawai Islands is the only SMK on Sipora Island. The location of SMK N 1 Mentawai Islands is also quite close to the capital of the Mentawai Islands Regency, Tua Pejat, which is about 30 minutes by land. Even though it is close to the center of government, the condition of SMK N 1 Mentawai Islands is very worrying. The condition of the school that does not have practical equipment, the limited number of teachers so that it has an impact on the lack of students who are interested in studying here. We obtained this information during an audience with the teachers of SMK N 1 Mentwai Islands.
Based on the results of discussions related to school conditions, we together with SMK N 1 Mentwai Islands agreed to carry out PKM activities at SMK N 1 Mentawai Islands. This activity begins with the creation of a PKM partner cooperation statement signed at the Automotive Engineering Department. The school’s arrival was represented by the Head of Light Vehicle Engineering Study Program Andrivo, S.Pd. while from the service side, it was carried out directly by the head of the service, Wanda Afnison, S.Pd, M.T.
As a follow-up to the cooperation agreement, the PKM team from the Automotive Engineering Department prepared a motorcycle engine stand for practicum media for students of SMK N 1 Mentawai Islands. This engine stand became the first practice media owned by SMK N 1 Mentawai Islands.
The school expressed its gratitude for the presence of this lecturer from the Automotive Engineering Department in the context of PKM activities as a solution to problems at SMK N 1 Mentwai Islands. “This is the first practice media in our school, a media that we really needed for a long time and only materialized now through PKM collaboration with UNP,” he said. He also hopes that UNP’s attention through this PKM program can open the eyes of all relevant agencies to be more concerned with the condition of schools in the Mentawai Islands whose conditions are very poor.
The head of service, Wanda Afnison, S.Pd, M.T through his speech also expressed his appreciation for the enthusiasm of the academic community of SMK N 1 Mentawaia Islands who worked hand in hand and synergized so that this activity ran smoothly. Beeliau believes that SMK N 1 Mentawai Islands, which is driven by visionary and innovative young teachers, is able to bring SMK N 1 Mentawai Islands out of all the problems they are experiencing. On this occasion he also conveyed the openness of UNP in terms of handling this problem and UNP with all its partnership programs is ready to be a solution to educational problems in the 3T area. Hopefully in the next 3-5 years, SMK N 1 Mentawai Islands will be able to grow and develop so that they can compete with other SMKs
[News by : Wanda Afnison, S.Pd., M.T. – PKM Team Leader]
