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E. Java high schools may soon teach classes on oil, gas industry
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Human resources – A field officer of oil and gas producer PT Saka Energi Indonesia, a subsidiary of state-owned gas producer PT PGN, introduces oil exploration techniques to students of state senior high school SMA Negeri 1 Manyar, Gresik, East Java, on Oct. 10. (JP/Wahyoe Boediwardhana)
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uthorities in the East Java regency of Gresik are considering high school classes on the oil and gas industry to entice more students to pursue further studies in the field upon graduation.
Gresik Education Agency head Mahin said it was crucial to attract senior high school students to study oil and gas, given abundant oil and natural gas resources across the regency and exploration companies in need of local workers.
Few senior high school graduates from Gresik are keen to pursue postgraduate studies in oil and gas.
“We will discuss it with all school principals in the near future. We will ask them whether it is possible to make oil and gas-related materials part of natural science [IPA] or social science [IPS] teaching at schools,” he told The Jakarta Post in Gresik recently.
“This is our effort to [encourage] them to focus their further studies on the management of oil and natural gas. We can ask oil and gas operators in Gresik to help deliver this material to students,” he went on.
Around 18,000 students graduate from senior schools in Gresik every year, including 800 vocational school students who are ready to work.
Mahin said very few vocational school graduates in the regency were attracted to work in the oil and gas sector.
Oil and gas producer PT Saka Energi Indonesia (SEI) CEO Tumbur Parlindungan said it was important for young Indonesians to explore their capacity and creativity to help manage natural resources in the country.
“With the creativity of Indonesian youth, SEI managed to push down offshore oil exploration and discovery costs from around US$38 million to $15 million - $17 million in 2014,” he said.
According to the subsidiary of state-owned gas producer PT PGN, it would be good for Gresik schools to teach oil and gas classes to third-year students, many of whom do not yet understand what the oil and gas industry is all about.
“As a result, their interest to work in the national oil and gas sector is very low, while Gresik and its surrounding areas have abundant oil and gas resources. Should we let foreigners handle the management of our own natural resources?” asked Tumbur, highlighting his company readiness to help provide oil and gas-related teaching materials.
SEI, which has oil and gas operations in East Java, said it had delivered basic oil and gas classes at 37 elementary and junior high schools in Gresik. Other East Java operators include JOB-Petrochina in Tuban, Camar Resources Canada in Bawean, PHE-WMO in Madura, Kangean Energy in Kangean Madura, Santos in Sampang, Mobile Cepu in Cepu and Lapindo Brantas in Sidoarjo. (ebf)
