The improvement of the vocational education ecosystem in Indonesia\nmust be carried out consistently and comprehensively to realise the\nenhancement of graduate competence in the labour market. \u201cThe step of\nproviding competency certification is a strategic move, but it must be\naccompanied by a thorough improvement of the vocational education\necosystem,\u201d stated the Deputy Speaker of the MPR RI, Lestari Moerdijat,\nin a written statement on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
In 2026, the Directorate of Vocational High Schools (SMK) under the\nMinistry of Primary and Secondary Education is providing a quota of\nassistance for certification programmes for a total of 250,000 SMK\nstudents across Indonesia. This assistance is divided into two main\nfocuses: 150,000 students for Competency (skill) Certification and\n100,000 students for Foreign Language Certification. This initiative is\npart of an effort to increase the competitiveness of vocational\ngraduates.<\/p>\n
Amidst the persistently high unemployment rate among SMK graduates,\nLestari assesses that the programme is insufficient without\nstrengthening the connection between education and industry. \u201cThe\nimprovement of quality and the connectivity of vocational schools, such\nas SMKs, with the industrial sector must be consistently realised to\nsuppress unemployment rates,\u201d said Rerie, as she is affectionately\nknown.<\/p>\n
According to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) as of\nFebruary 2026, the open unemployment rate for SMK graduates reached\n7.74%, the highest compared to other educational levels. Although there\nwas a decrease from 8.63% in August 2025, the contribution of SMK\ngraduates to total national unemployment remains at 22.35%, ranking\nsecond after high school (SMA) graduates. The skills gap is cited as one\nof the primary causes.<\/p>\n
Data from the International Labour Organization (ILO) 2023 shows that\napproximately 57.3% of workers in Indonesia experience a mismatch\nbetween education and employment. Rerie, who is also a member of\nCommission X of the DPR RI, argued that efforts to achieve a \u2018link and\nmatch\u2019 between vocational education programmes and the needs of the\nbusiness world must continue to be enhanced. \u201cStrong collaboration is\nrequired between stakeholders in the education sector and the business\nworld so that vocational education graduates can be well-absorbed into\nthe workforce,\u201d the NasDem Party member emphasised.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lestari-moerdijat-vocational-education-ecosystem-improvements-must-be-consistent-and-comprehensive-1780864398", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }