VP Ma’ruf Amin: Vocational Training Improves People’s Competency, Productivity
Developing superior human resources is one of national priority programs to realize an advanced Indonesia, according to Vice President Ma’ruf Amin.
According to him, the Government continues to implement a number of programs, including programs in the field of employment to achieve the goal. Thus, he added, it is important to improve the competency and productivity of those in the working ages through vocational training in order to boost economic growth.
“The pandemic condition must be utilized as a momentum to make a leap and to catch up,” he said in his livestreamed remarks at the 2021 Vocational Training Award, Thursday (12/16).
The Vice President also said that the statements are in line with directives from President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo that Indonesia must not be trapped as a country with a middle income, but instead must escape from economic crises due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Ma’ruf Amin also pointed out that the Government continues to carry out evaluation and revitalization on vocational education and training in order to evenly improve competency and productivity of the country’s workforce.
“For those who can’t afford to get higher education, they must be provided skills [training] to able to compete,” he said.
For the record, a number of government strategies in revitalizing vocational education include encouraging transformation of vocational education and training from upstream to downstream, strengthening the link and match between vocational education and training institutions and industrial sectors, and transforming the Work Training Center (BLK) by collaborating with stakeholders who organize vocational education and training.
“It is my hope that support from industries for vocational [education and training] is not only through CSR programs, but also through sustainable collaboration. Developed countries rely on vocational [education and training] to build human resources and Indonesia should not be left behind to do the same process,” the Vice President said.
Vice President Ma’ruf Amin also stresed the importance of equitable development of eco-friendly industries in improving community’s welfare.
“In the future we can no longer implement the development of industrial zones that are insensitive to environmental sustainability. We should not let communities surrounding [industrial zones] remain in poverty. If local industries are developed, the people in the areas do not have to relocate to big cities to improve their welfare,” he added.
The Vice President also expressed hope that employment sector in Indonesia can be further improved, especially through productive, creative people awarded with the 2021 Vocational Training Award. (BPMI of Vice President Secretariat/AIT) (AP/EP)