Cikarang, W Java (Antara Bali) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has
called for diversification in Vocational Schools (SMKs), which is
adjusted to the industrial market need.
"I told the minister that thousands of our SMKs, from Sabang to
Merauke, must not be confined to the old curriculum. Our curriculum must
be flexible, and (SMK) should not have monotonous vocations," he stated
at the Greenland International Industrial Center, Cikarang, West Java,
on Friday.
The president made the statement during the launch of the
Vocational Education program at PT Astra Otoparts Tbk. At the launch,
there were 141 industries and 393 SMKs that signed 800 cooperative
agreements.
"Ever since I was a kid, (SMKs) vocations are only building
engineering, electric engineering, and what else I do not remember (it
all), but what I remember is that if you go to the STM, you will see the
same old departments, majoring in building and electric. Why in the
current fast changing era are there no departments of ototronik
(automotive electronic), welding engineering, construction engineering,
steel engineering, mechatronic (mechanic, electronic, and informatics)
engineering or animation, and meme specialists, for example," the
president questioned.
Previously, there were 167 industries and 626 SMKs in East Java,
Central Java, Yogyakarta, which had entered into cooperation agreements
in phase I and phase II, so that there were a total of 1,035 SMKs, with
307 companies and 12 thousand teachers who participated in the
vocational training program.
"We have to have the courage to go in there (diversifying
vocations). Logistics vocation is also needed. The building department
should also have window and door engineering vocations. This is what I
saw in Germany. Building vocation is too general. What is needed in the
cooperation today is a very strategic one," he added.
Besides SMKs, the vocational training also includes two (Islamic)
boarding schools, namely the Nurul Iman boarding school and Sunan Drajat
boarding school.
"I am glad that link-and-match between industry and vocational
schools was seen in the boarding schools. I noticed that the cooperation
with the Nurul Iman boarding school was strategic as it taught about
the Business Process Outsourcing and about finctech. Both of them have
to be included in (boarding schools) if we do not want to be left
behind," he stated.
The president also hoped that state companies (SOEs) and large
private firms in Indonesia will cooperate with boarding schools.
Jokowi was accompanied by Industry Minister Airlangga Hartanto,
Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, West Java Governor
Ahmad Heryawan, President Director of Astra International Prijono
Sugiarto, and President Director of Astra Otoparts Hamdhani Dzulkarnaen
to the event.(*)
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