We Want Our Human Resources Ready to Face Changing World, Cabinet Secretary Says

President Jokowi is accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung before a Plenary Cabinet Meeting at the State Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (7/8). (Photo by: Agung/Public Relations Division)

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung stated that focus on human resource development in the 2019 State Budget Bill is made because in the past four years, the Government has been focusing on infrastructure development, which has been well implemented.

“So we hope that starting 2019, we can improve the quality of our human resources to prepare them to face the changing world and to support Indonesia as the country with the 4^th biggest population in the world,” Pramono told reporters after a Plenary Cabinet Meeting on Financial Note and the Bill on the 2019 State Budget at the State Palace, Tuesday (7/8).

In addition, Pramono added that Indonesia’s Gross Domestic Product has now been classified as G20 country. In the global competition, Pramono further explained, human resource plays a crucial role.” That is the President’s focus,” he said.

Earlier, when giving his introductory remarks at the Plenary Cabinet Meeting, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo requested that the priority to develop human resources must become the focus and attention of every ministry and institution in Indonesia in the 2019 State Budget Bill.

“I hope (we can focus) especially on vocational schools, vocational training, polytechnics, partnership with industries and upgrading our manpower,” the President said.

Regarding education, Pramono said that education that is oriented towards changes of era will also become a priority. In addition, universities are also expected to change their curriculum to be more flexible, he said.

“This is what the President hopes. He has reiterated the matter during a forum with rectors and Minister of Research and Higher Education to change the curriculum and because the rectors also need to be prepared,” he said.

Regarding the percentage of the budget for human resource development, Pramono explained, it is now being drafted by Minister of Finance to be delivered in the President’s Financial Note remarks on 16 August.

Although giving a priority to human resource development, Cabinet Secretary emphasized that the 2019 State Budget Bill does not set aside infrastructure development. Cabinet Secretary said that the budget is earmarked to improve land, sea, air infrastructure and the provision of elementary and junior high schools that are currently neglected. There is an increase in infrastructure budget in 2019. “The figure is above Rp110 trillion,” Pramono concluded. (FID/ES)(MUR/MMB/YM/Naster).