The Provincial Government of the Bangka Belitung Islands (Pemprov Babel) officially welcomed the arrival of Timedoor Academy in Pangkalpinang. This move is seen as a strategic effort to equip the younger generation with future-ready skills, such as programming (coding) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Acting Head of the Bangka Belitung Islands Education Office, Saipul Bakhri, emphasized the urgency of a paradigm shift for children in the digital era. According to him, today's young generation must be encouraged to move beyond being mere technology users and become creators of digital solutions.
"Technology is evolving rapidly, with changes occurring in a matter of days. Therefore, we want children in Bangka Belitung not only to be adept at using applications, but also capable of designing, building, and creating innovations that benefit the broader community," Saipul said during the institution's grand opening.
Despite the focus on accelerating digital literacy, Saipul emphasized that developing technical skills must be paired with strong character education. The use of advanced technology must align with wisdom and responsibility to ensure a positive impact on society.
Another challenge highlighted was the competency gap between teachers and students. Saipul hopes non-formal educational institutions can collaborate with formal ones to enhance teaching capacity. This synergy is deemed crucial so teachers can keep up with the pace of technological development being learned by students.
The provincial government remains committed to supporting cross-sector collaboration to ensure that Bangka Belitung's digital education ecosystem functions optimally. This step is believed to serve as a solid foundation for raising globally competitive human resources with strong character and integrity.
