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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

Indonesia Boosts Vocational Training Through Industry Partnerships

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Indonesia's Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology is strengthening partnerships between vocational schools (SMK) and industry to improve graduate employability.
  • The ministry aims to reduce SMK graduate unemployment from around 9% to below 5%, a challenging goal given the rapid pace of technological change and curriculum updates.
  • A key challenge is the mismatch between the exponential growth of vocational schools and the stagnant number of industries available for internships, creating a gap in practical training opportunities.

Indonesia's Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology is actively working to bridge the gap between vocational education and the demands of the job market. Recognizing that vocational schools (SMK) must produce competent graduates adaptable to industry needs, the ministry is prioritizing stronger partnerships with businesses, higher education institutions, and local governments.

Director General of Secondary and Special Education, Tatang Muttaqin, highlighted the critical role of industry in providing SMK students with up-to-date technology and market insights. "Without industry involvement, what is done in schools, even with the hardest effort, might not be relevant or could even be outdated compared to what exists in industry and business," he stated.

Muttaqin noted a positive trend, with SMK graduate unemployment decreasing from approximately 12% to around 9% in the past two years. However, the current challenge is to lower this figure to below 5%, a target he aims to achieve. He pointed out that while European countries like Switzerland and Germany have a balanced ratio of industries and vocational schools, Indonesia faces a different scenario.

Without industry involvement, what is done in schools, even with the hardest effort, might not be relevant or could even be outdated compared to what exists in industry and business.

— Tatang MuttaqinDirector General of Secondary and Special Education, Tatang Muttaqin, explaining the necessity of industry collaboration for vocational school relevance.

"Vocational [schools] are growing exponentially here, while industries are relatively stagnant," Muttaqin explained. This imbalance makes it difficult for SMK students to secure internships, with preference often given to schools possessing a strong track record. He expressed hope that current collaborations will increase internship placements, particularly for students from rural vocational schools.

Another significant challenge is the rapid pace of digitalization, which quickly dates school curricula. Muttaqin emphasized the need for continuous adjustments to keep pace with these changes, ensuring students remain competitive in a dynamic job market.

Vocational [schools] are growing exponentially here, while industries are relatively stagnant.

— Tatang MuttaqinTatang Muttaqin describing the imbalance between the growth of vocational schools and the availability of industry partners in Indonesia.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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