One of the palm oil-related myths has it that palm oil companies do not care about education for communities around their plantation areas. People who believe in the myth think that the palm oil industries only care about economic profit and ignore the issues of community development.

But what they think is actually different from the reality of oil palm plantations, which are usually located in rural areas. Access to education is indeed limited in most of remote areas across Indonesia. But lucky are those remote areas with the presence of oil palm plantations as the palm companies operating there provide education facilities.

The oil palm plantations are generally located in remote areas that were previously isolated and far from public facilities. However, such condition has changed.

Many oil palm companies have built schools ranging from preschools to elementary schools and junior high schools within their plantation areas.

Initially, these schools were intended only for the children of company employees. But over time, these educational facilities were also opened to other communities, allowing children from surrounding villages to attend the same schools. Researcher Edward (2019) noted that in several palm oil-producing districts, the number of schools has increased significantly, and most of them are not public schools, but rather built by plantation companies.

Oil palm companies not only built new schools but also helped renovate existing buildings, provided books and computers, scholarships for high-achieving students, and allowances for teachers. In some areas, companies have even provided school buses and established “smart houses” and “learning houses” for village children.

The presence of these facilities not only improves access to education but also creates a more suitable and high-quality learning environment in areas that are previously underdeveloped. The palm oil industries’ contribution extends beyond the primary level. By increasing smallholders’ incomes, families living near plantations now have greater financial capacity to send their children to colleges.

Research shows that oil palm farmers’ income directly impacts their ability to finance education, including diploma, bachelor’s, and even master’s degrees. Furthermore, the fund collected from palm oil export levies managed by the Indonesian Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Board (BPDPKS) is also distributed through scholarship programs. From 2015 to 2021, BPDPKS had distributed IDR186 billion to support the education of 3,265 students, children of palm oil farmers, throughout Indonesia.

Two key aspects that show the palm oil industry’s tangible contribution to education are the availability of learning facilities and the increased affordability to get education. In other words, the palm oil industries do not only develop schools but also increase the people’s purchasing power, enabling them to benefit from education.

The myth that oil palm plantations are indifferent to rural people’s education has now been debunked. From building schools to providing scholarships, the palm oil industries have now become a vital part of advancing education in remote areas of the country. As the oil palm trees there are growing, there a new hope is also growing. The village children can now dream bigger, learn more, and build their brighter future. (*)

• Sukiyono, K. (2024). Smallholder palm oil and sustainable development goals. Sustainable
• Musim Mas. (2023). Social Impact Report. https://www.musimmas.com
• Futures, 6(1), 112–123. https://www.sciencedirect.com
• INSTIPER Yogyakarta. (2023). Peran Industri Sawit terhadap SDGs.
• https://jurnal.instiperjogja.ac.id  Sinar Mas Agribusiness & Food. (2018). Minyak Kelapa Sawit Mengubah Pandangan Dunia Pendidikan di Indonesia. https://www.smart-tbk.com