VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Acting Director General of Vocational Education Patdono Suwignjo affirmed that the industry's involvement in vocational education will improve the quality of education.

"The basic principle of Minister Nadiem Makarim is to bring the industry to schools and campuses, since the most obvious feature in several developed countries is that vocational education involves the industry. The quality of education will be good if it brings the industry to the school or campus," Suwignjo stated in Jakarta on Monday.

To this end, Suwignjo affirmed that the Ministry of Education and Culture is striving hard to bring the industry to schools and campuses.

Under the Directorate General of Vocational Education lies one directorate that handles this problem: the Director of the Partnership and Alignment of Business and Industrial World (DUDI).

"Comprehending the importance of this, the Ministry of Education and Culture has created a special directorate to handle the cooperation," he expounded.

Suwignjo noted that the industrial world had yet to feel the tangible benefits by working with schools and campuses. To this end, the educational institutions, assisted by the Ministry of Education and Culture, are tasked with convincing the industrial world that several benefits can be availed through joint collaboration.

In addition to the tax cut policy for industries involved in the development of human resources, Suwignjo believes it had yet to show optimal results.

"Maybe since it is new, so the impact has not been seen clearly. Perhaps, it will take some more time," Suwignjo expounded.

The Directorate General of Vocational Education is a new directorate during the era of leadership of Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarim.

The Directorate General of Vocational Education comprises three directorates: Vocational Directorate, the Directorate of Vocational and Professional Higher Education, and the Directorate of the Partnership and Alignment of Business and Industrial World (DUDI).

The Jakarta provincial government had earlier set aside Rp2.3 trillion in funds to build 10 new vocational schools and renovate 137 school buildings this year.

"The construction of 10 vocational schools and the renovation of 137 school buildings will cost Rp2.3 trillion," acting chief of the Jakarta provincial education office Bowo Irianto noted in a short text message on Friday.

The 10 new vocational schools are deemed necessary since only 63 of the 590 vocational schools in the capital belong to the government, while the rest are run by private institutions, he added.

"Construction of the 10 new vocational schools is in line with the strategic activities and the vocational school revitalization program in the capital," he added.

Construction of vocational schools and the renovation of school buildings must be completed this year. The extension of project time will be permitted if it meets the terms and conditions.

"Hopefully, the contracts would be signed in early May at the latest," he added. (ANTARA)