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<\/p>\nWhen it comes to palm oil, many people just focus on economy. But actually, behind the green expanse of oil palm plantations lies its other hidden benefit to the society that is rarely exposed: Its role in education.<\/p>\n
Despite hidden, there is no denying that the palm oil industries have a \u00a0significant role in advancing education in Indonesia, especially in rural areas. Many empirical studies have shown that the palm oil sector has significantly contributed to the efforts of improving access to and quality of education, particularly in rural and underdeveloped areas.<\/p>\n
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The oil palm plantations have often functioned as the primary driving force in development of isolated areas, which previously lacked infrastructure and supporting facilities. The needs of palm plantations\u2019 employees for basic services, such as education for their children, had led many palm companies to build schools within plantation areas.<\/p>\n
Interestingly, over time these schools are no longer exclusively for the employees’ children. Local communities can also attend them, creating new learning centers in areas previously inaccessible to formal education.<\/p>\n
Researcher Edward (2019) noted that in many oil palm-producing regencies, the majority of schools are not government-owned but built by the privately-owned plantation companies. This finding indicates that oil palm plays a structural role in expanding the reach of national education.<\/p>\n
Several studies, such as those by Rist et al. (2010), Budidarsono et al. (2012), PASPI (2014), and Syahza et al. (2020), had confirmed the significant contribution of the palm oil industries to the development of educational facilities. In fact, a study by Santika et al. (2019) found that school construction in oil palm villages progressed more rapidly than in non-oil palm villages.<\/p>\n
In addition to building elementary and secondary schools, many palm oil companies also provide teacher training, laboratory facilities, and community literacy activities. These programs are part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, which focus on improving the quality of human resources in their operational areas.<\/p>\n
Real Contribution: From School Renovation to Scholarships<\/strong><\/p>\n Research by Suwandi et al. (2013), Pambudi et al. (2017), Satria (2017), and Baihaqi et al. (2020) shows that palm oil companies not only build school buildings but also maintain the sustainability of education in the rural areas where their plantations are located.<\/p>\n Some proven contributions include:<\/p>\n These steps not only expand access to education but also improve the quality of the learning process in and around the oil plantation areas.<\/p>\n Palm Oil Income Up, Public Education Up<\/strong><\/p>\n The contribution of palm oil industries to education development extends beyond just physical development. The welfare improvement of local people, especially the oil palm plantation workers and smallholders, through development of oil palm plantations, has also empowered families in the regions to finance their children’s education up to the level of universities.<\/p>\n Research by Rist et al. (2010), Alwarritzi et al. (2016), Kubitza et al. (2018), and Syahza et al. (2021) shows a positive relationship between the increased income of oil palm farmers and the improvement of their children’s education levels.<\/p>\n According to Chrisendo et al. (2022), many oil palm farmers’ children have successfully earned diplomas and bachelor’s degrees thanks to their families’ economic stability.<\/p>\n These diverse data and studies demonstrate that the palm oil industry has transformed into a vital pillar of social and educational development in Indonesia. Through two main channels: the development of educational facilities (availability) and the improvement of communities’ ability to access education (affordability), palm oil has become a driving force behind the advancement of national human resources\u2019 quality.<\/p>\n The palm oil industries have not only empowered the growers economically, but also empowered them socially and educationally. The palm industries have also raised the hope that from the remote areas of Indonesia will emerge a more quality education that will be more inclusive and competitive at national level. (*)<\/p>\n\n
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