Monday January 28, 2013, 10:28 am

Mill tutors help high school students prepare for graduation

What a difference a night makes.

Before the Mayang Mangurai Education Foundation (YPMM) began offering a weekly evening class to tutor Tebing Tinggi high school students in 2006, more than half were failing the national exam to graduate high school.

Four years later, more than 90 percent of the 108 students who took the exam passed.

The course is managed by Suratman, an employee of the PT Lontar Papyrus paper mill near the community’s high school.

“The reason for the course is that the passing rate was below 50 percent,” Suratman said. He said that number was not only frustrating for students, but also disappointing for parents.

To correct the problem Suratman and other Lontar Papyrus employees volunteered as tutors. Each employee teaches 15 to 20 students on different weeknights. As a result, pass rates have doubled.

The dramatic improvement was noted by Tora Siregar, a volunteer. Although he and his Lontar Papyrus colleagues are not paid for their services at the special night school, he said they get many rewards.

“We all share the desire to educate the children,” Siregar said.

Jessica Devitasari, who recently passed the national exam, is grateful.

“Before this program, many students from my high school did not pass the exam,” she said. “Now there is a significant improvement.

Monday January 28, 2013, 10:44 am
thanks

Monday January 28, 2013, 1:03 pm
You're welcome Sue

Monday January 28, 2013, 6:46 pm
VERY IMPRESSIVE, thanks

Monday January 28, 2013, 7:02 pm
You're welcome Terry. You cannot currently send a star to Terry because you have done so within the last week

Monday January 28, 2013, 8:56 pm
Great news Cheers

Monday January 28, 2013, 8:57 pm
You cannot currently send a star to David because you have done so within the last week.

Monday January 28, 2013, 9:19 pm
I agree David L

Monday January 28, 2013, 9:20 pm
You cannot currently send a star to Rose because you have done so within the last week.

Tuesday January 29, 2013, 8:36 am

This is community action at it's best. Could we do it here? You bet we could. Do we ask people in the community or parents to help? Not often.

Tuesday January 29, 2013, 8:43 am
Excellent application of this idea Kit! Once upon a time, especially in rural America, the school was the center of all community activity and the whole community supported the students.You cannot currently send a star to Kit because you have done so within the last week.

Tuesday January 29, 2013, 10:01 am
More good news. Thanks.

Tuesday January 29, 2013, 12:12 pm
You cannot currently send a star to Michael because you have done so within the last week.

Tuesday January 29, 2013, 1:35 pm
This is good news and thanks to all who helped make it possible.

Tuesday January 29, 2013, 4:34 pm
You cannot currently send a star to Christeen because you have done so within the last week.