SINERGI PENDIDIKAN DAN PENGEMBANGAN MINAT BAKAT: UPAYA PENINGKATAN SUMBER DAYA MANUSIA DI LINGKUNGAN SEKOLAH NAGARI NAN TUJUH

Objective:Nagari Nan Tujuah, Palupuh Subdistrict, has considerable human resource potential among school-aged children; however, this potential is often limited by the lack of specialized teachers in certain fields. This article aims to describe the process of educational assistance and the development of students’ interests and talents in several schools in Nagari Nan Tujuah, including the strengthening of English literacy, traditional dance, and sports (volleyball, chess, and athletics). The method used in this study is descriptive qualitative, with participatory observation techniques and direct assistance in the field. The results of the activities show an increase in students’ enthusiasm and basic skills, although several challenges were found, such as low basic English understanding among upper-grade students and limited natural talent in traditional dance. Intensive mentoring through creative methods, such as games, songs for early childhood students, and regular practice at schools and the KKN post, proved to improve students’ readiness for school examinations and subdistrict-level competitions. This activity emphasizes the importance of the presence of specialized teachers to optimize non-academic potential in rural areas.