President Prabowo Orders Curriculum To Require Foreign Language For Vocational Education

JAKARTA - The government is preparing a comprehensive strategy to match the needs of the labor sector (demand side) with the education sector (supply side). This step is a direct direction from the President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto as part of an effort to eradicate poverty.

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno, conveyed this after a limited meeting with the President at the State Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday, November 6.

"How do we match the supply side in the education sector with demand side in the labor sector, both domestic and foreign workers," said Pratikno.

Pratikno explained that one of his main efforts was to strengthen vocational education. The hope is that graduates from vocational schools to universities can meet the needs of the workforce optimally.

This strengthening includes not only technical abilities, but also crucial non-technical skills.

"Earlier it was delivered, including part of the preparation of language skills, getting to know culture, in addition to technical abilities," he said.

This matching effort will be carried out synergically and involve many ministries, considering that the scope is not only in the education sector but also in job market demand.

On the same occasion, the Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment, Muhaimin Iskandar (Cak Imin), emphasized that education is a key strategy to break the chain of poverty.

Cak Imin emphasized that the government will increase vocational training to accelerate the absorption of SMA and SMK alumni to the job market, involving government and private job training centers (BLK).

In this regard, the President has ordered the revitalization of vocational schools and directed the national education curriculum to be directly oriented towards preparing the world of work.

"The President's order to revitalize vocational schools, where the education curriculum and education management are oriented towards preparing for job absorption and the world of work," said Cak Imin.

Cak Imin also revealed that there were special instructions from the President regarding language mastery.

"Including, the President asked that apart from Indonesian, English, Arabic foreign languages be one of the obligations for schools to implement," he added.

In order to realize the increase in the capacity of vocational education and formal education in general, President Prabowo is said to have provided flexibility in the use of the state budget.