Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Inauguration Ceremony of Jokowi Learning Center at Kebangsaan Senior High School, South Lampung Regency, Lampung Province, July 11, 2024
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Assalamuálaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
Tabik pun [greeting in Lampungnese].
Ladies and gentlemen,
My beloved children.
If I were still in junior high school or senior high school, I would apply to this school. We can see that this school boasts a beautiful environment and a very good landscape, as previously shown by Head of the Foundation, the Principal, and Mr Toto. This school has modern facilities and, as previously stated by Mr Zulkifli Hasan, aims to improve the standard of living of our people, especially those from lower-middle income and lower-income households. This is an excellent school for them.
I am glad that the students here come from 28 provinces, including Papua. It means that the Kebangsaan Senior High School is well respected at the national level so that we have students from 28 provinces. We need excellent human capital to deal with global competitiveness. No matter how good our infrastructure is, if our human capital is not exceptional, it will be reflected in our ranking in the World Competitiveness Ranking issued annually by an institution named IMD (Institute for Management Development).
[Through the index] we can compare our competitiveness with neighboring Malaysia or Thailand, in terms of infrastructure, technology and innovation, or health. Unfortunately, in terms of competitiveness, even though we have moved up seven ranks, our ranking is 57-58 in education and health sectors. Even though we are ranked 27th in the World Competitiveness Ranking, which is very good, we are ranked 57th in two sectors, namely education and health.
Imagine all Cabinet Ministers and wealthy people like Mr Hatta and Mr Boy Thohir build ten schools like this, with complete facilities like the ones at Kebangsaan Senior High School, our ranking will definitely move up significantly, and we will produce excellent human capital that the country needs.
I have reiterated that in the future, the fast country will beat the slow country. It is not the superpower country that will beat the small country. We must ensure that our country becomes a fast country with excellent human capital in the sectors of technology, innovation, and various other things.
Mr Zul has asked me to have lunch here. Without being asked, I will have my lunch here. Eating is important. Do not let your busy schedule make you skip your lunch. That is not good for your health.
That concludes my remarks. Once again, let me extend my appreciation for the development initiatives carried out at Kebangsaan Senior High School and the same initiatives carried out in all regions across the nation. By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, this afternoon I hereby officially inaugurate the Jokowi Learning Center at Kebangsaan Senior High School in South Lampung regency, Lampung province.
I thank you.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
(RI/MUR)