Jobs limited in apprenticeship program

JAKARTA (JP): Around 1,000 Jakarta high school students flocked to the Jakarta office of the Ministry of Education and Culture for part-time jobs at either private or state companies yesterday, only to find there are not enough positions available.

The city administration has sponsored apprenticeship programs for students of senior high schools during their holidays so that they can fill the period with productive and constructive activity.

Ariantono, a third-year student of SMAN (public high school) 58 in Ciracas, East Jakarta, said he was disappointed because the office could not give him a job. He said he had planned to spend his school holiday working on his future and still hopes he will find a job.

"I will accept any kind of job because it will give me extra credit when I graduate," he said, adding that money was not his motive.

His colleague, Renny Ibrahim, shared his view. "It is the reference letter that I am after," she told The Jakarta Post.

Renny said she would submit another application in December if the office could not provide her with a job this holiday.

Agus Setiadi, a third-year student at SMA 37, could not hide his disappointment when he found out the office could not keep its promise to provide him and other students with jobs.

"According to the official announcement, the application forms would be distributed on June 6, but now they told us they have run out of forms," he said.

A public relations staffer of the office said thousands of students had been crowding the office's compound since two weeks ago for the forms. However, he said that the office could only find approximately 3,000 jobs in 43 companies, including at some government's agencies.

The over demand for part-time jobs by students was partly due to the office's success in providing 45,315 part-time jobs during the school holiday last June and another 43,541 in December last year.

The staff member, who asked to remain anonymous, estimated that the demand for part-time jobs will increase from 43,000 in 1993 to 60,000 this year.

He said the office was forced to distribute the application forms earlier than scheduled because it needed more time to prepare the apprenticeship arrangements.

He added that the office would print more forms later after it has ensured new jobs.

Agus told the Post that he hoped more companies would participate in the program.

A number of government bodies such as the Ministry of Public Works and the Municipal Fire Department are among the 43 entities employing students this holiday. Others include supermarkets, shopping centers and restaurants such as Hero, Golden Truly, Metro, Yaohan, Gunung Agung, Matahari, McDonalds, Circle K and Suharti fried chicken, will take in the students as part-time employees during the school holiday. (03)