{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1757885,
        "msgid": "ministry-of-education-expands-foreign-language-certification-for-smk-students-1779542080",
        "date": "2026-05-22 16:42:19",
        "title": "Ministry of Education expands foreign language certification for SMK students",
        "author": "",
        "source": "ANTARA_ID",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Social Policy",
        "summary": "Indonesia's Ministry of Education, Primary and Secondary is expanding foreign language certification for SMK students in 2026, including a TOEIC-based English certification. The non-English language certification has already reached over 120 SMKs and more than 13,000 students, while the English TOEIC scheme targets around 170,000 students from over 800 SMKs. Officials say the move will help SMK graduates compete globally and access work, internships, or further study abroad.",
        "content": "<p>Jakarta \u2014 The Ministry of Education, Primary and Secondary\n(Kemendikdasmen) is prepared to organise the Foreign Language\nCertification for SMK Students in 2026 to open greater opportunities for\nSMK students who wish to work or pursue studies abroad. Minister of\nEducation, Primary and Secondary (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu\u2019ti said SMK\nstudents have great potential to be an important part of Indonesia\u2019s\neconomic development, including at the global level. \u2018We want Indonesian\nSMK graduates to have global competence and be able to compete in the\ninternational arena. They must be ready to work, to contribute, and to\ndemonstrate the quality of the nation\u2019s youth wherever they are,\u2019\nMendikdasmen Abdul Mu\u2019ti said in a written statement in Jakarta on\nFriday. The Foreign Language Certification \u2013 Non-English for SMK\nStudents Year 2026 programme has provided access and reached more than\n120 SMKs with a target of more than 13,000 students across various\nregions of Indonesia. Secondly, the English-language certification\nscheme via TOEIC. The government targets around 170,000 students from\nmore than 800 SMKs across Indonesia. To support the program\u2019s\nimplementation, the Ministry is organising Technical Guidance for\nGovernment Assistance under the SMK Students Foreign Language\nCertification Year 2026 Phase 2 programme. \u2018Language is a bridge to the\nfuture. Therefore SMK graduates must be confident to compete, not only\nat the local level but also internationally,\u2019 he said. According to\nTatang, the government wants to ensure SMK graduates are truly ready to\nface the challenges of the modern job market, not only possessing\ntechnical skills in their field but also having foreign-language\nabilities and strong soft skills. He added that the foreign language\ncertification is presented as a \u2018global passport\u2019 so that SMK students\nhave greater opportunities to work, intern, or pursue studies\nabroad.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ministry-of-education-expands-foreign-language-certification-for-smk-students-1779542080",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}