Reporter: Arie Lukihardianti
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, INDRAMAYU —
Improving digital literacy among educators and students in Indonesia must continue so they are ready to face the challenges of the digital era. According to the Group Head of the Central Region of PT XLSMART Telecom Sejahtera Tbk (XLSMART), Arif Farhan Budiyanto, the company recognizes the growing need to enhance digital literacy among teachers and students in the country.
This awareness, he said, drove XLSMART to introduce the Digital Smart Class initiative — a training program focused on improving the digital skills of teachers and students for educational activities. This program has been implemented across various regions since 2024, including Cimahi, Bekasi, Belitung, Jakarta, and Yogyakarta, before eventually reaching educators and students in Indramayu.
“Through Digital Smart Class, we want to equip educators and students with digital skills relevant to future needs. Digital literacy is not only about being able to use devices, but also about using technology productively and responsibly,” said Arif Farhan.
XLSMART continues to strengthen its contribution to Indonesia’s human-capital development by bringing the Digital Smart Class (KCD) program together with the Data Donation Movement (GDK) to Indramayu, West Java. The KCD program is part of the company’s third CSR pillar, Tri Karsa, which focuses on three areas: Philanthropy, Women Empowerment, and Education.
The program is developed through the Teman Pintar Indonesia initiative as a form of the company’s commitment to expanding access to education and digital literacy in communities. This edition of Digital Smart Class was held at SMK Endang Darma Ayu, Indramayu, on Monday (27/10), with 100 participants consisting of selected vocational high school teachers and students.
The opening was attended by Tommy Chandra Dirgantara (Head of Sales for Indramayu, Purwakarta, Subang, and Cianjur areas), Amin Kiswoyowati (School Supervisor, Provincial Education Office Region IX of West Java), and Erwin Indriasentana (Principal of SMK Endang Darma Ayu).
According to Arif Farhan, this activity is part of XLSMART’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the realization of Indonesia Emas 2045. The synergy between Digital Smart Class and the Data Donation Movement contributes directly to several SDG targets:
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SDG 1 (No Poverty): Increasing digital literacy to open new economic opportunities
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SDG 4 (Quality Education): Providing training and technology access to schools in various regions
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SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Expanding equal internet access for underserved areas
This commitment aligns with XLSMART’s Sustainable Corporate Citizenship agenda to create long-lasting social impact through digital innovation. The effort emphasizes not only connectivity, but also empowering communities to become active participants in the country’s digital transformation.
“The vision of Indonesia Emas 2045 — a prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive society — can only be achieved through improving education quality and preparing the younger generation, especially in addressing challenges related to human productivity and digital technology usage in learning,” he said.
The Digital Smart Class activities in Indramayu were joined by around 100 teachers and students from six participating vocational schools:
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SMK Endang Darma Ayu
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SMK Nasional Indramayu
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SMK PGRI Indramayu
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SMK Migas Indramayu
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SMKS Yapin Kertasemaya
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SMK Maritim Indramayu
The training, held from 08:00 to 12:00 WIB, provided interactive learning on using digital devices and applications in education. Teachers joined the “Digital Devices and Applications Class”, which included training on various platforms such as ChatGPT and Canva to support more creative and efficient teaching.
Amin Kiswoyowati, School Supervisor of the West Java Provincial Education Office Region IX, expressed appreciation:
“Programs like this are crucial to prepare teachers and students for the challenges of the digital era. We hope this activity continues and reaches more schools in the future, especially in West Java.”
Participants were also trained to identify hoaxes and misinformation, and teachers were taught how to guide students in verifying information online. The session emphasized digital ethics and responsibility amid the rapid flow of information.
For students, the program focused on storytelling classes, encouraging them to narrate and promote Indramayu’s cultural and tourism potential. The training helped sharpen communication skills, creativity, and pride in their local heritage.
“Indramayu has rich cultural and tourism potential. We want students to learn how to promote their region creatively and in a digital-friendly way,” said Daus, a local content creator and one of the facilitators. Several XLSMART employees also took part in the training sessions.
As the closing event, XLSMART organized the Digital Smart Class Competition, challenging teachers to design implementable digital literacy lesson plans. Meanwhile, students created digital promotional content highlighting Indramayu’s cultural and tourism assets.
XLSMART also held a session to distribute Data Donation Movement (GDK) internet access packages as concrete support for equal digital access in education. The event, held from 13:00 to 15:00 WIB, was attended by the Head of the Indramayu Education Office, the Principal of SMK Endang Darma Ayu, teachers, students, and partner representatives.
The GDK program is a social initiative by XLSMART inviting customers and the public to voluntarily donate their internet quota. Donations are distributed to educational institutions using XLSMART routers and SIM cards. The program collaborates with the Wahana Visi Indonesia Foundation and is officially licensed by the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.
“The internet is no longer a secondary need — it is now a primary tool in teaching and learning. Through the Data Donation Movement, we want to ensure no school or student is left behind in digital access,” said Arif Farhan.
Through GDK, each beneficiary school receives a router package with 120 GB of data for 12 months. This assistance is expected to support digital-based learning and expand internet access for students and teachers in both online and offline educational activities.