PALMOILMAGAZINE, SANGATTA — The 80th National Teachers’ Day commemoration at the East Kutai Regent’s Office Field on Tuesday morning (25/11/2025) was filled with emotion and pride. More than a routine annual ceremony, the event affirmed the local government’s commitment to improving teachers’ welfare and honoring those who have dedicated their lives to education.
Led by East Kutai Regent Ardiansyah Sulaiman, the ceremony featured the presentation of the district’s Outstanding Teacher Awards. Among the recipients, public attention centered on Sri Lasri Yohana Situmeang, a teacher at Anugrah Abadi I Kindergarten in Bengalon, who secured two prestigious recognitions. She was named a Dedicated Teacher and won the 2024 National Award for Early Childhood and Basic Education Dedicated Personnel. Yohana was also voted Favorite Outstanding Education Personnel at the national GTK Jamboree organized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology.
Behind Yohana’s achievements lies a long story of persistence. Her national recognition began with her consistency in documenting every aspect of her teaching activities—evidence of her unwavering commitment to early childhood students in remote areas.
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“I received this award because I documented everything I did, as part of my dedication to teaching in early childhood education,” she said, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com from the East Kutai Regency Government website on Saturday (11/29/2025).
Yohana described the extreme challenges she faces each day just to reach her classroom. She travels several kilometers through palm oil plantation roads, whose conditions shift drastically depending on the season.
“During the rainy season, the roads turn into deep mud. In the dry season, the dust is overwhelming. Sometimes I slip or fall from my motorcycle because the terrain is truly difficult,” she recalled, her eyes welling with tears.
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Yet none of these obstacles diminished her passion for teaching. The awards she received stand as proof that her efforts were not in vain.
“I am deeply grateful for this recognition. It shows that the local government truly appreciates the work of teachers in East Kutai,” she said.
She also shared a heartfelt message to her students, who have long been her source of strength.
“Thank you to my students. You are the reason I keep pushing myself to come teach, even through such difficult roads.”
Regent Ardiansyah reaffirmed that the district government remains committed to improving educational quality—ranging from scholarship programs and enhanced teacher incentives to reducing administrative burdens on educators.
Sri Lasri Yohana Situmeang’s story stands as a powerful reminder that a teacher’s dedication knows no bounds. Despite limited facilities and harsh terrain, her spirit never fades. The East Kutai Government emphasized its ongoing support for educators who work tirelessly for the future of Indonesia’s young generation. (P2)
