INDEF: Vocational Education Becomes One Way To Accelerate Workforce Skills For Economic Development

JAKARTA - The government is considered to need to strengthen coordination with industry so that workers from vocational training can be maximally absorbed. Moreover, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy stated that Indonesia's workforce has great potential to accelerate economic development.

Deputy Director of the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) Eko Listiyanto, assessed that vocational education is one way to accelerate the provision of skilled workers for economic development.

"Actually, vocational training is good for speeding up. So they will soon become skilled people and be absorbed in the labor (market). But to be absorbed, it must be a link and match," said Eko in Jakarta, Monday, October 31.

However, according to Eko, there are many challenges faced by vocational education. The main thing is support from the government.

"Vocational education in Indonesia, in my opinion, support from the government is still lacking," he said.

Eko said that the availability of infrastructure is a problem that still occurs. This is because, he said, many vocational schools do not yet have adequate laboratories that are in line with industrial developments.

In addition, he continued, the availability of teachers who match the needs of the industry is still a challenge in vocational education. This is important to create synergy between the world of education and industry.

"Greetings of learning actually also need mentors or teachers who come directly from practitioners or from the industry," he said.

According to him, the government should also consider and pay attention to the industry's need for skilled workers. So that there are no vocational education graduates who are not absorbed due to too many.

"Don't let too many open later but then the market needs are not that big, to enter the market you need more training. If so, there will be a lot of unemployment," he added.

The government, Eko added, should also assist vocational education participants in terms of funding. He considered that many of the education participants were from disadvantaged groups who aimed to quickly get a job.

"There must also be government support here. Apart from the lab, it may also be a kind of scholarship. Because their intention is to immediately help their parents," he concluded.

Previously, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said that Indonesia's workforce has great potential to accelerate economic development. Including vocational education that adds and enhances abilities.

"Vocational education and training need to complement each other with industry. Therefore, it is hoped that vocational training is connected to the labor market information system," said Airlangga.

The chairman of the Golkar Party also said that vocational education and training should complement each other with industry. Therefore, Airlangga hopes that vocational training is connected to the labor market information system.

Airlangga explained, vocational training is a re-skilling and up-skilling that is needed not only for now but also in the future. Moreover, he said, in the changing world of work, life long learning is necessary.

"If prepared properly, Indonesia's workforce has great potential to accelerate national economic development so that the workforce is expected to prosper before they get old," said Airlangga.