SMK1 Sekayu leads with health, hygiene program

Sun, 03/23/2008 3:05 PM | Discover

The courtyard of SMK1 state vocational high school in Sekayu, Musi Banyuasin regency, South Sumatra, leaves no special impression, but on the other hand, its surrounding environment definitely suggests some distinction. The beautiful landscape is filled with lush vegetation, and undeniably provides freshness and comfort, as was experienced by The Jakarta Post correspondent Khairul Saleh, who visited the school at the end of February and encountered an institution that is a model of health and hygiene.

SMK1 Sekayu has been carrying out its long-standing School Health Initiative (UKS) program as a principal agenda of the school since its founding in 1986.

Through this program, which is an indispensable and integral part of the school's activities, SMK1 placed first in the Healthy School Competition of South Sumatra in 2006 and placed second in a similar contest at the national level in 2007.

Moreover, SMK1 Sekayu has become a model of health maintenance at schools both within and outside South Sumatra.

Last year, delegates from several schools in this region, including those from Oran Komering Ulu and Ogan Komering Ilir regencies, came to SMK1 to study its health and cleanliness program. From further afield, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam government officials visited the school in December 2007 for the same purpose.

According to SMK1 Sekayu principal Pariati, the UKS program spearheads the implementation of the school's health strategy: to empower society, particularly the school community, in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

"The program not only nurtures healthful lifestyles in school, but also at home and other places. We emphasize the need for students to maintain cleanliness and health wherever they are, rather than to observe these as merely a duty," Pariati told The Jakarta Post.

SMK1 Sekayu currently has 854 students enrolled in 24 classes, 25 percent of whom are males. Its four vocational departments are Hotel, Accounting, Sales and Administration.

At school and beyond

The UKS program is carried out both internally and externally.

Internally, it is intensive and promotes sustainable environment activities that involve all students, such as inClean-up" and special health maintenance assignments.

The decorative plants that provide greenery throughout the school - both indoors and out -and medicinal herbs for studying are inseparable parts of the school's health program.

Externally, the program is implemented by cooperating with relevant institutions like the local health office and the regional environmental impact control agency, as well as district and subdistrict administrations.

The timetables for external cooperation efforts are adjusted to prevailing conditions and events, such as Independence Day and Musi Banyuasin's anniversary. Related activities include sanitation contests, blood drives, presentations on general nutrition and raising awareness on clean and healthy living.

The students are given special assignments by turns, with their main task to preserve cleanliness at school, particularly keeping the classrooms tidy and fresh. The Friday Clean-up also aims to create a clean school environment, but this is done collectively.

Over the past year, the UKS program has been more focused as part of the physics curriculum, such as including the theory and practice of composting from organic waste and other compounds.

"Compost is not only used for school greening purposes, but also for sale to local residents, who are considerably interested in purchasing it," said Heriyanto, a school security guard who takes an active part in making compost.

The organic fertilizer is produced monthly at a rate of 12-15 sacks, with each sack weighing 20 kilograms. Many local residents order their compost from the school, at a price of Rp10,000 per sack.

"Through their studies at school, several students now make compost at home. Though many improvements can be made, their enthusiasm is very important. Hopefully, this (composting) skill will be beneficial to their futures," added principal Pariati.

Urging overseas experience

Apart from its achievements in promoting healthy lifestyles at school and among its community, SMK1 Sekayu has also made waves by finding overseas employment opportunities for its best students.

Last year, the school helped 15 of its Administration graduates find jobs at the Yamauchi Malaysia company in Johor Darul Takzim. This year, 22 others from the Accounting course will join the same firm. Their net salary ranges from Rp 2.5-3 million (US$260-315) per month, excluding overtime.

Though these students are employed through an Indonesian migrant workers recruitment firm in Palembang, the job opportunity is the result of a two-year job training cooperation between the Musi Banyuasin administration and the Malaysian government.

"The graduates undergo quality enhancement during their training. Only after they are considered skilled enough for the needs of Malaysian employers do we send the best graduates through the Palembang recruitment firm," said Pariati, adding that interested candidates are subject to a tight selection process.

Once the students have passed the training, the regency administration provides a Rp 7 million loan for each eligible graduate to make departure preparations. The loan is repayable over a 10-month installment scheme.

Money matters

Meanwhile, SMK1 Sekayu has set up a mini-bank for use by its Accounting students in their practical studies - the bank also provides regular services, such as receiving deposits and issuing loans.

The government's life skills program provided an initial capital of Rp18 million, which was utilized to establish Bank Mini. The on-campus bank now holds Rp 27 million and serves students, teachers, other school employees and even local residents.

"Residents can apply for loans at this bank, but they have to be guaranteed by school personnel. Otherwise, the loans are not granted," said Pariati.

"This is to ensure a consistent and smooth loan repayment," she added.

The Bank Mini only grants a maximum Rp1 million loan that must be repaid in 10 months at the market lending rate, but students find the facilities to be of great help - particularly when the money for boarding fees comes in late from their parents, despite the strict control by school authorities.

"The loan isn't very big, butquite a relief, as sometimes I need money badly, such as when my allowance from home arrives very late," said Siswariantini Rusmini, a third-year Sales student at SMK1 Sekayu.

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