Education Ministry Holds SMK Benchmarking to Strengthen Industry Synergy
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) is strengthening its revitalisation programme through industry-based vocational school (SMK) learning facilities and equipment by carrying out benchmarking visits to industries and SMKs in Batam City. This activity is part of the ministry’s strategic measures to accelerate the recovery of SMK facilities and infrastructure in the provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra following hydrometeorological disasters, whilst ensuring the alignment of learning facilities with the needs of the business and industrial world (DUDI).
Director General of Secondary Education and Special Education at Kemendikdasmen, Tatang Muttaqin, in a written statement in Central Jakarta on Sunday, stressed to school principals that the renewal of learning facilities must be continuously carried out to remain relevant to the times. Through visits to industry partners, he expressed hope that principals would be able to transform the practice spaces in their respective schools to become more relevant to current industry needs. Tatang also reminded them that school governance must be managed professionally and honestly to maintain the school’s reputation in the eyes of industry.
“Let us prove that Indonesian SMKs do not merely follow industrial developments, but are capable of growing together with industry and producing graduates who are competent, have character, and are ready to win the future,” Tatang said. He explained that Batam City was chosen as the benchmarking location due to its highly dynamic industrial growth, covering the manufacturing, electronics, maritime, and digital economy sectors. In the Riau Islands Province, student interest in continuing education at SMKs has also continued to increase, reaching 62 per cent this year.
On the same occasion, Director of Vocational Secondary Education, Arie Wibowo Khurniawan, explained that revitalisation assistance has been distributed to 131 SMKs affected by disasters in the Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra regions. In addition to physical building repairs, the ministry will also allocate a budget for the procurement of SMK practice facilities and equipment in disaster-affected areas. Arie reminded schools to be meticulous in planning the procurement of practice equipment. The equipment chosen, he said, must be in accordance with the skill competencies developed by the school, relevant to the needs of the business and industrial world, and reflect the technology and standards used in the industry. “We hope that the graduates of SMKs in disaster-affected areas will meet the needs of industry,” Arie Wibowo stated.