Jakarta's SMKN 61 on Tidung Island Sends Graduates to Japan, Aims to Produce Global Maritime Talent

Located in the Thousand Islands regency of Jakarta, SMKN 61 is not letting its remote location hinder its ambition to produce internationally competitive graduates. The school on Tidung Island has sent approximately 30 graduates to work in Japan over the last five years. Head of SMKN 61 Jakarta, Firdaus, stated that the school is currently focused on expanding overseas job opportunities for its graduates, especially in Japan. The programme is carried out through cooperation with job training institutions and support from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen). “Working domestically is common, but our focus lately has been on overseas employment. One of the destinations is Japan,” he said during an interview at SMKN 61 Jakarta on Thursday (25/6). He explained that in 2026, ten students are already being prepared to join a job placement programme in Japan. These students are undergoing training and will depart once they meet the specified requirements. “These ten individuals are going abroad with assistance from the ministry. Because of this support method, it is easier for students to go overseas,” he noted. Firdaus explained that the graduates working in Japan are not limited to a single field. Placements are tailored to industry needs, ranging from fisheries agribusiness and construction to other sectors. “There are various fields, some in fisheries agribusiness, some in construction. It does not have to be strictly linear with the competency areas taught at the school. It usually follows the needs of the industry,” he clarified. SMKN 61 Jakarta currently has several partners to support overseas work opportunities. For Japan specifically, three partnerships are already active, including with Jish and Breksa. Firdaus emphasised that the departure process is carried out in stages because students must undergo training first. Besides work competency, Japanese language skills are a key part of the preparation. “Japanese language skills are prepared. It is usually focused on during the 12th grade and continued during training before departure,” he said. Beyond technical abilities, SMKN 61 Jakarta equips students with a cadet-based education system. This educational approach aims to build discipline, responsibility, and independence in students before they enter the workforce. Firdaus noted that one of the biggest challenges when students work abroad is their mental readiness to live far from their families. “The issue when students go abroad is independence. The inability to be away from their parents,” he said. For this reason, the school environment implements a boarding system and character development, which is believed to be a way to train students to be better prepared for life overseas. SMKN 61 Jakarta offers five skill programmes: Merchant Marine Nautical, Merchant Marine Engineering, Fishing Vessel Nautical, Brackish and Marine Fisheries Agribusiness, and Culinary. Three of these departments have received international recognition or approval: Merchant Marine Nautical, Merchant Marine Engineering, and Fishing Vessel Nautical. This recognition means graduates from these three departments hold certificates that meet international shipping industry standards, including recognition from the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). Being located in an archipelago is also a distinct advantage for SMKN 61. Students not only learn theory but gain hands-on practical experience at sea, allowing them to understand real maritime conditions. In terms of facilities, the school also has supporting resources such as a bridge simulator, engine simulator, and supporting laboratories to enhance student competencies according to industry needs. Firdaus believes the success of graduates working abroad is the result of a combination of industry-based learning, school facilities, character education, and an authentic maritime learning environment. “What is important is not just technical competence, but also mentality and genuine maritime experience,” he said. Meanwhile, Head of the Thousand Islands Education Sub-department, Muhammad Thohari, stated that this recognition has enabled SMKN 61 Jakarta graduates to have equal opportunities to build mature careers in the future. “Previously, even if they worked, they were only crew members. With the approval certificates, our children are recognised. Imagine, our graduates from a Thousand Islands vocational school can produce young people ready to become ship captains. If they want to compete at the global level in the UAE or Europe, we will not be inferior,” concluded Thohari.