"We gained a lot of inspiring experiences during our visit to NTB from December 24 to 31, 2011. Students need to learn a lot about the lives of the community. We found that the people of NTB are creative and hardworking in developing their region," said Agung Kurniawan, Chairman of the Association of Government Science Students (HIMAP) at UMM.
HIMAP visited several stakeholders in NTB, including the NTB Provincial Government, the Regional Representative Council (DPRD) of NTB, and one of the Islamic boarding schools. Agung mentioned, "We were warmly welcomed and treated with respect. We gained a lot of inspiring experiences and knowledge," he added.
Hapipi Jayadi, a Government Science student who also participated in the visit, shared, "We had discussions with Government Science students from Universitas Muhammadiyah Mataram, the NTB Provincial Government, and the general public. We discussed issues surrounding the development of education in NTB, particularly in Lombok. Educational facilities and infrastructure are still very limited, and the community struggles to access quality education. They make do with the limited educational resources available."
Despite these challenges, Hapipi continued, the people of Lombok never give up. They continue to move forward and collaborate with one another to build a better future for their region. "The central and local governments must pay more serious attention to the educational conditions of grassroots communities like those in Lombok," he added, criticizing the government.
The group that participated in the visit included Agung Kurniawan, Hapipi Jayadi, Rahmat, and Masriadi. The four students are key members of the Government Science Student Association for the 2010-2011 period.
