Human resources vital

Human resources vital

It was a pleasure to read in The Jakarta Post of Aug. 3 that
Indonesia was at the threshold of a "demographic dividend" when
its dependency ratio is at its lowest (RI will benefit from
demographic dividend: Expert).

Indonesia is a country very rich in natural resources, but it
is the human resources of a nation that are considered the prime
resources. Therefore, it is imperative that the population must
consist of "men/women of quality". And what makes it? A good
education which is not class biased, which is standardized, which
provides a scientific and technological base, which inculcates a
good work attitude, and which makes people socially, culturally,
and politically aware.

Any nation where the juvenile population is not vocationally
trained is like a smoldering volcano, a nation of angry, restless
and frustrated people who can create political instability and
can cause cultural and social unrest.

At this demographically historical moment, the nation must
endeavor to make people economically productive by providing them
with vocational education so that there can be substantial value
addition in all sectors. Therefore, no expenditure in the field
of education can be considered enough. As a matter of fact, it
will be the best investment of the nation. All that is needed now
is a vision, a determination and a commitment.

MEERA BAHUKHANDI
Jakarta