Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Opening of the Vokasifest (Vocation Festival) and the 3rd Independent Campus Festival 2023, at Graha Bhakti Budaya Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta Special Capital Region, December 11, 2023

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

 Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Good morning,

May prosperity be upon all of us,

Om Swastiastu,

Namo buddhaya,

Greetings of Virtue.

 

Distinguished Minister of Education and Culture, along with the ministers present, presidents and heads of universities, [Acting] Governor of Jakarta Special Capital Region,

Distinguished Chief of Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and Chief of Indonesian National Police, lecturers, school principals, teachers, and all of you students who are present here this morning.

 

Good morning!

I am glad to be attend this Vokasifest (Vocation Festival) and this Independent Campus Festival. These two festivals show collaboration and concrete cooperation between universities, schools, and industry and at the same time bring students closer to the world of work.

More than that, as Minister [of Education and Culture] has said earlier, the results of the existing work are concrete and real. I have been shown the buses, the applications, the platforms, then at the front, I have seen the animations being produced and many more.

And, what is important in my opinion is the preparation of our future talents. The preparation of our future skills now is much more concrete, and as the Minister has shown us the results earlier, our Global Talent Competitiveness Index has risen very high. And this is a real and concrete result which we all applaud the Minister for because our education must really be in accordance with the current and the future needs, must solve problems, and must also be able to make the most of the available opportunities.

Changes in the world today are taking place very, very fast and technological disruption is also rapid. Therefore, we must have the courage to innovate to find new ways that are more effective in any case, in developing our young talents. And, higher education and vocational education also play an important role in teaching relevant science and technology, which can improve people’s access to enjoy better education.

I have been told earlier that some of you come from the Independent Campus and some others come from the SMK PK [Vocational High School with Center of Excellence status]. I want a student from SMK PK to come forward.

Wait a minute. Do not come forward yet. Let me point first who should come. If you want to come forward, raise your hand. That’s it, then I’ll tell you to come forward. Come forward please. At least I have pointed first who should come forward because the others want to come forward too.

I am glad that the recipients of the Indonesia Smart Card for University Students (KIP Kuliah) reached 900,000 in 2023. This is a very big leap. And also the recipients of the higher education affirmation scholarships for 3T (the frontier, the outermost, and the least developed) regional students have reached 7,400. I think this is a very large number. And, it was also stated that students studying off campus in the Independent Campus program have reached 900,000. This is also very, very many.

For those who are participating in the Independent Campus program, please raise your hand. You on the top, please come forward. Yes, you may come forward. Do not jump, but go through the rear, and you’ll be told to come forward.

That’s it, yes you, come forward, go through there then down here. Please, come forward the one I have pointed earlier, do not let six people all rush here. Just one person who should come here.

Please introduce yourself.

Fadilah Amalia (Student of State Vocational High School (SMK Negeri) 1 Jakarta)

Well, thank you Sir for this opportunity. Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Wa’alaikumsalam.

 

Fadilah Amalia (Student of State Vocational High School 1 Jakarta)

Let me introduce myself, my name is Fadilah Amalia, from State Vocational High School (SMK Negeri) 1 Jakarta.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

State Vocational High School 1 Jakarta. Is Fadilah your nickname?

 

Fadilah Amalia (Student of State Vocational High School 1 Jakarta)

Yes Sir.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

What is taught at SMK PK? What is the difference between vocational high schools that don’t bear the PK (Center of Excellence) status and vocational high schools that bear the status?

 

Fadilah Amalia (Student of State Vocational High School 1 Jakarta)

OK sir, let me explain. As a matter of fact, my major is Design Engineering and Mechanical Drawing. So for…

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Design Engineering and Mechanical Drawing. What’s that?

 

Fadilah Amalia (Student of State Vocational High School 1 Jakarta)

That’s engineering, Sir. So we design mechanical drawings which will later be worked on by students from the mechanical engineering department. And as a matter of fact, Mechanical Engineering Department of SMK 1 Jakarta has been made a center of excellence (PK). It is the first department of SMK 1 Jakarta to get the opportunity to be made a center of excellence.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

What’s the difference between SMK which bears the PK status and SMK which does not?

 

Fadilah Amalia (Student of State Vocational High School 1 Jakarta)

The difference is that this school has a teaching factory, as Mr. Nadiem has explained earlier, where selected students who are specially trained take part in student competency competition (LKS) whose material is derived from the lessons taught at the teaching factory. And thank God, my school yesterday won 4th place at the 2023 national student competency competition (LKS) in CNC (computer numerical control) milling competition and 6th place at the 2023 national LKS in CNC turning competition.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

What is the CNC milling competition and why did you win?

 

Fadilah Amalia (Student of State Vocational High School 1 Jakarta)

We can win because of the lessons we’ve learned from SMK PK, Sir. Especially because of the teaching factory, we have opportunity to practice in school on Saturday and Sunday. Meanwhile, schools which don’t bear the PK status can’t offer their students that kind of opportunity to study further. That’s why we can win and promote our school and Jakarta Special Capital Region to the national level.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

So, those enrolled in SMK PK can join the teaching factory, but those enrolled in regular Vocational High Schools cannot do that.

 

Fadilah Amalia (Student of State Vocational High School 1 Jakarta)

Yes, that’s what I know so far.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Well, okay. Now introduce yourself, but don’t go back yet. Say your name and where you’re from. Please come closer.

 

Tengku Nabilah (Student of Bandung Islamic University)

I’m nervous, Sir.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Please come closer.

 

Tengku Nabilah (Student of Bandung Islamic University)

Let me introduce myself, my name is Tengku Nabilah.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Your nickname is Tengku, right?

 

Tengku Nabilah (Student of Bandung Islamic University)

Yes, Tengku. I’m from the Independent Campus program class 5.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Class 5 of the Independent Campus, where do you come from?

 

Tengku Nabilah (Student of Bandung Islamic University)

From Bandung Islamic University.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

From Bandung Islamic University. What’s the difference between those who participate in the Independent Campus program and those who don’t? Do you just follow the platform provided by the Ministry of Education and Culture or can you go out and have your course credits counted? Tell me simply.

 

Tengku Nabilah (Student of Bandung Islamic University)

OK Sir. So the difference that I feel is that this program has quite an impact on my life because when I …

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

What do you mean by saying that this Independent Campus program has an impact on your life? I’m surprised. Please tell.

 

Tengku Nabilah (Student of Bandung Islamic University)

Because my [regular] courses require me to take part in community service program (KKN) and teaching practice, but when I participate in the Independent Campus program and the Teaching Campus program, I don’t need to take part in either the community service program (KKN) or the teaching practice (PLP).

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

So, it’s easier, then.

 

Tengku Nabilah (Student of Bandung Islamic University)

Yes, thank God.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

So, why do you say it has an impact on your life?

 

Tengku Nabilah (Student of Bandung Islamic University)

In fact, I get the opportunity to teach children, which has a really big impact on me and the children I teach, get involved directly with the society and find out that the children here need us while we students need to be closer and know more about the children and the environment.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

OK, I can understand. But, now the last question. Pancasila.

 

Fadilah Amalia (Student of State Vocational High School 1 Jakarta)

Pancasila: one, Belief in One Almighty God; two, Just and Civilized Humanity; three, Indonesian Unity; four, Democracy Led by Wisdom in Deliberation/Representation; five, Social Justice for all Indonesian people.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Can we give her a bicycle? Yes, please give her the bicycle.

 

Fadilah Amalia (Student of State Vocational High School 1 Jakarta)

Thank you very much, Sir.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Take it straight away, please.

The second question, where is Indonesia new capital city located?

 

Tengku Nabilah (Student of Bandung Islamic University)

Kalimantan.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

What’s its name?

 

Tengku Nabilah (Student of Bandung Islamic University)

Its name is Nusantara.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Yes, are there still any bicycles available or not?

 

Tengku Nabilah (Student of Bandung Islamic University)

Thank you, Sir. Can I take it home straightly?

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Yes, please. If you can’t take it home, we’ll send it later.

I think that concludes my remarks. And by saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, this morning I officially open the Vokasifest (Vocation Festival) and the 3rd Independent Campus Festival 2023.

I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

(TM/EP)