OREANDA-NEWS. October 26, 2012. PT Pertamina (Persero) through Pertamina Foundation launches Sekolah Sobat Bumi (Friends  of the Earth School) program to enhance the practice of best school standard in Indonesia by paying more attention to environmental preservation, reported the press-centre of Pertamina.  

The launch of Sekolah Sobat Bumi was attended by Deputy 6 of the Ministry of Environment Ilyas Asaad, Secretary of Directorate General of the Ministry of Education and Culture Mustagvirin Amin, Deputi 1 of Presidential Work Unit in Development Monitoring and Control Heru Prasetyo, and the President Director of Pertamina Karen Agustiawan.

The first year of the Sekolah Sobat Bumi program has produced as many as 17 Sekolah Sobat Bumi Champions, comprises seven primary schools, five secondary schools, three high schools and two vocational schools.

Sekolah Sobat Bumi Champions were selected through strict selection onto 56 schools with the Sekolah Adiwiyata Mandiri title. Sekolah Adiwiyata Mandiri is the title awarded to schools that have received Sekolah Adiwiyata award from the Ministry of Environment for three consecutive years.

Sekolah Sobat Bumi Champions, spread across eight provinces, are required to perform four main pillars to increase the school quality, that is the Leadership of Headmaster and Educators through highly effective leadership program, school management revamp through  Good School Governance, school curriculum revamp through Kurikulum Tingkat Satuan Pendidikan (KTSP) under environmental context (Education for Sustainable Development), and perform environmental friendly program in their schools.

Meanwhile, environmentally friendly program comprises the use of renewable energy, efficiency in fossil fuel usage, school waste management, integrated healthy canteen and planting diversity, tree planting investment, as well as optimization of the use of environmentally friendly mode of transportation to and fro school.

Sekolah Sobat Bumi Champions will share their experience in running environmentally friendly lifestyle to 10 other schools, which are called Sekolah Sobat Bumi Binaan. The guidance will take place for 3 years.