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