Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education Launches 3+1 SMK Class for Working Abroad

The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) launched the SMK Overseas Employment Class (3+1) to prepare vocational high school graduates who are ready to work in the global labour market. The programme was launched alongside the graduation of 3,000 SMK graduates and 600 graduates from training institutes who will work abroad. Education Minister Abdul Mu’ti said the programme represents one of the new directions in the development of vocational education. He said graduates are now prepared not only for domestic labour needs but also for the international job market. “This programme is also an effort to fulfil constitutional rights, whereby every citizen has the right to a decent living for humanity,” Mu’ti stated during the programme launch in Surabaya, East Java, on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. Director General of Secondary and Special Education at Kemendikdasmen, Tatang Muttaqin, said the SMK Overseas Employment Class (3+1) has been designed since 2025 in response to rising global labour mobility. He stated the programme would serve as a bridge for SMK graduates entering the international job market. Under the scheme, students will undertake regular education for three years in line with the national curriculum. An additional year is provided to strengthen language skills, understanding of work culture, and up to the laws and protections for workers in the destination country. “Working abroad is not just about work, but about learning to live independently and becoming a ambassador for the nation,” Tatang said. He noted that the programme is currently implemented in at least 49 SMKs across various regions. Schools involved are expected to incorporate the overseas employment dimension into their curricula. Kusdarmadi, head of SMKS Muhammadiyah 1 Malang, said the extra year is important because preparation for working abroad cannot be achieved solely through three years of regular education. He said students require language reinforcement, adaptation to work culture, and readiness in physical and mental aspects. The school is also partnering with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) to train students’ discipline and physical resilience. In addition, the school has engaged a psychology team to strengthen the mental readiness of learners who want to work abroad. SMKS Muhammadiyah 1 Malang has already sent graduates to work in Japan since 2019 across sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, and caregiving. Head of SMKN 1 Buduran, Sidoarjo, Agustina, said student interest in working abroad has continued to rise in recent years, but preparations remain insufficient. “With this programme, we can truly prepare pupils earlier. We can start as early as grade 10,” Agustina said.