Jobs limited in apprenticeship program
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)