Education and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy praised the Industry Ministry’s initiative of launching a vocational education program for Central Java and Yogyakarta, saying it showed the latter’s responsiveness in tackling the challenges of increased global competition.

He said the program was strategic as industrial players determine what kind of human resources they want.

“Hence, it’s time for industrial players to start playing a greater role in the education sector so that human resources can meet the standards of the industrial world,” Muhadjir said during the launching of the vocational education program for Central Java and Yogyakarta on Friday.

Launched at the Apac Inti Corpora industrial complex in Bawen, Semarang regency, Central Java, the program synergizes 117 companies and 389 vocational schools (SMK) across the two provinces.

Muhadjir said the program was extraordinary as it could develop Indonesian human resources, which needed to be improved.

The Education and Culture Ministry would soon revitalize 42 vocational schools across Indonesia, including state vocational school SMK Tekstil in Pekalongan, Central Java, he said, noting that textile manufacturer Apac Inti Corpora would be involved in supporting SMK Tekstil’s revitalization.

Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto said he appreciated businesspeople and industrial players who are willing to participate in developing vocational education in Indonesia by, among others, joining the ministry’s "link-and-match" program.

The minister said he hoped headmasters of SMKs could use the program to help develop their schools. (ebf)

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by Suherdjoko

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