Indonesia sends 3,030 vocational graduates to overseas work programs

This is an effort to expand access to employment and international work experience..

Jakarta (ANTARA) -

Indonesia's Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is preparing to send 3,030 graduates of vocational high schools (SMKs) and training institutions (LKPs) to overseas internship and employment programs to expand job opportunities and improve workforce competitiveness.

The ministry's Director General of Secondary and Special Education, Tatang Muttaqin, said the initiative aimed to help vocational education graduates gain international work experience and develop skills that meet global labor market demands.

"This is an effort to expand access to employment and international work experience for them, expected to improve their competencies, competitiveness, and preparedness to meet the demands of the international workforce," Tatang said at an online graduation ceremony for the program on Thursday.

Of the 3,030 participants, 1,530 were graduates from 231 vocational high schools across 26 provinces. This group comprised 1,066 internship participants and 464 participants in overseas employment programs, he said.

A total of 450 participants came from 32 vocational high schools in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY).

The program also included 1,500 graduates from 17 training institutions in three provinces: Yogyakarta, Central Java, and West Nusa Tenggara, Tatang added.

Participants would be sent to various destinations, including Germany, Japan, Türkiye, Bulgaria, South Korea, Malaysia, and other countries in Europe and the Middle East. Each destination has different competency and language requirements, he said.

Tatang emphasized that foreign language proficiency was essential to help participants adapt to their destination countries and meet employers' requirements.

He also highlighted the importance of ensuring that participants had the necessary skills to pursue international career opportunities.

The initiative builds on the ministry's efforts to expand overseas employment access for vocational education graduates. More than 10,000 SMK and LKP graduates had previously been sent abroad for work, according to the ministry.

"To date, more than 13,000 vocational high school and LKP graduates are working abroad," Tatang said.

Through overseas internships and employment programs, the ministry aims to give more vocational education graduates international professional experience, strengthen their skills, and improve their competitiveness in the global labor market.

Related news: Indonesia develops new vocational school models to curb unemployment

Translator: Hana Dewi, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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