Deputy Minister: SMK Revitalisation Realises Quality Vocational Education

The Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Atip Latipulhayat, stated that the SMK Revitalisation programme is part of the government’s efforts to realise quality, equitable, and fair educational services.

“The revitalisation of SMK is not merely about the construction or repair of infrastructure, but represents a thorough transformation, encompassing changes in paradigm, governance, learning processes, the strengthening of partnerships with the professional world, and the improvement of graduate quality,” he said in a written statement in Jakarta on Friday.

He noted that the programme is in line with the fourth ‘Astacita’ of the President and Vice President, which places the strengthening of human resources through education, science, and technology as the primary foundation for national progress.

According to him, vocational education plays a strategic role in producing graduates who possess the skills necessary to compete at both regional and global levels. Therefore, adequate physical facility support is a vital element in providing high-quality vocational education.

He explained that the Technical Guidance (Bimtek) for SMK Revitalisation aims to provide participants with a complete understanding of the programme, mechanisms, and provisions for the implementation of government assistance. Furthermore, it seeks to strengthen school capacity in technical planning, administrative management, and to enhance accountability in the implementation and reporting of assistance funds.

Up to the ninth stage of implementation, it was noted that 1,333 SMK have participated in the 2026 SMK Revitalisation Technical Guidance, with 688 SMK having signed cooperation agreements. The assistance, with the first instalment of funds reaching Rp656 billion, is distributed across 34 provinces, with the highest number of recipients located in Aceh Province, totaling 94 SMK.