Moeldoko Instills The Spirit Of Never Giving Up In Seeking Knowledge

JAKARTA - With education one can change one's destiny and get out of poverty. That is the spirit of the Presidential Chief of Staff, Dr. Moeldoko in the past when he was still a student. He instills an unyielding spirit in studying no matter what obstacles he faces. And also must be innovative so that the work produced can be appreciated by others.

"For that, you young people, don't just give up. Because now anyone can be anything. Let's create innovations for the progress of our nation,” he exclaimed in a written statement received by VOI, while reviewing vocational education at SMK NU Ma'arif Kudus, Central Java, Friday 12 August.

Dr. Moeldoko recalled how difficult it was for him to continue his education from Junior High School (SMP) to Senior High School (SMA). He said that the difficult conditions occurred due to economic and environmental factors.

“His name is also a village boy and from a poor family. Just graduating from high school is fine. But I don't want to give up. I have to go to high school. Because I thought, with education I could get out of poverty,” recalls Moeldoko.

To the students, Moeldoko also shared his experience when he first initiated the development of an electric car. He revealed that when he became deputy governor of Lemhanas in 2012, he already thought that electric batteries were the future, and the future was electric batteries.

Continuing the story, Moeldoko admitted that he invited his colleagues from BPPT and ITB to fly to Shanghai and see firsthand the process of producing electric batteries as well as electric cars. From that visit, Moeldoko wished to make batteries and electric cars in Indonesia.

“After a long debate, my friend from China finally agreed to cooperate. After that, I sent the team dozens of times to China to study. And Alhamdulillah everything went well. In essence, something must begin with the spirit of building. And I want to build a future for young people," he said.

The 2013-2015 TNI Commander also emphasized that the government pays great attention to the future of young people. In addition to placing vocational education in an important position in the Human Resources (HR) development strategy, said Moeldoko, the government has also issued a National Talent Management program.

The program contained in Presidential Decree No. 21/2021 concerning the National Talent Management Task Force, manages a database of Indonesian children who have advantages. That way, the state will be present to manage these great talents.

"So that these great children are not taken by other countries. Because, so far, many smart young people have been taken by other countries because they are not managed properly in Indonesia. And we can only be angry," he explained.

On that occasion, Moeldoko expressed his appreciation for the vocational education at SMK NU Ma'arif Kudus which has been integrated with industry. That way, students can immediately be absorbed into the world of work when they graduate from school.

"At the current peak of the demographic bonus, we must provide as many job opportunities as possible, we must increase the capacity of human resources to be more productive and more competitive, and vocational education occupies an important position in our HR development strategy," concluded Moeldoko.