Gov’t to Build 1,000 Vocational Training Centers in Islamic Boarding Schools Next Year

President Jokowi accompanied by First Lady Ibu Iriana attends the Nusantara Islamic Boarding School Students Grand Assembly held at Vastenburg Fort, Surakarta, Central Java, Saturday (20/10). (Photo by: BPMI Setpres)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has expressed his desire to build approximately 1,000 Vocational Training Centers (BLK) in Islamic boarding schools across the country next year, from the current number of 50 BLK .

The President made the statement in his speech before 48,000 Islamic boarding school students and ulemas at the Nusantara Islamic Boarding School Grand Assembly, held at Vastenburg Fort, Surakarta, Central Java, Saturday (20/10).

“We see that the training center is very useful and can improve our human capital, so we will double the number in the future, because there are 28,000 boarding schools spread from Sabang to Merauke, from Miangas to Rote Island,” the President said.

The move is made following the President’s observation every time he visited Islamic boarding schools. The President found that the students need various trainings, from computer training to fashion and garment trainings.

“We will try and carry out an evaluation whether it is suitable or not, proper or not, so that it can improve the skills of the students and finally we will come to a conclusion that we must do this. This is not easy, this is a big job that requires our collective ideas,” the President said, adding that the BLK will be adjusted to the potential of the Islamic boarding schools.

Regarding the empowerment of Islamic boarding schools, the President went on to explain that there is a micro-waqf bank, which has just started, to improve the economy of the ummah.

For the micro waqf bank program, the President said that as of now, the program has been operated in 33 Islamic boarding schools.

Also present accompanying the President and First Lady Ibu Iriana Joko Widodo were Minister of State Secretary Pratikno and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo. (Bureau of Press, Media, &Informatiom, Presidential Secretariat/ES)(MUR/LW/YM/Naster).