Facing Demographic Bonus, Jokowi Reminds Lifelong Learning Is Important For A Better Life

President Jokowi on the video screen closed the ILLC agenda in Badung, Bali, Wednesday (5/7/2023). (Sean Filo M-antara)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said lifelong learning is important for everyone because it can change someone's life for the better.

"Lifelong learning is reality, not a narrative, so this is important because it can change a person's life for the better," Jokowi said via video at the closing of the Inclusive Lifelong Learning Conference (ILLC) agenda which was attended in Badung, Bali, Wednesday, July 5.

Jokowi said, Indonesia will get a demographic bonus in which the age composition of the productive population will be very large in the coming 2030.

He mentioned that the demographic bonus only occurs once in the civilization of a country. "This can be an opportunity, but it can also be a disaster if we can't manage it," Jokowi said.

To answer these challenges, he continued, the government initiated the Prakerja Program which takes advantage of technological advantages.

He explained, the Prakerja Program is a solution to accelerate skill improvement, which is also lifelong learning, because anyone can participate without any restrictions.

"In managing the demographic bonus, the government cannot work alone. Cooperation, partnership, and collaboration with various parties and the community are needed," he said, as quoted by Antara.

Therefore, President Jokowi advised that all elements of society can convince young people, especially Gen Z and Gen Alpha, to become lifelong learners.

This, he continued, is so that there is an acceleration, even a leap in improving the quality of human resources, and can improve the quality of people's lives, as well as being the driving force for the progress of society, nation, and state.