North Sulawesi sends 40 students to Philippines

Yongker Rumthe, The Jakarta Post, Manado

North Sulawesi sent on Wednesday 40 students of several vocational high schools to undergo an apprenticeship program at their own expense in a number of professions in Davao City located in the Philippines.

The program, which had been carried out since 1998, was part of a student exchange program between Indonesia and the Philippines. But, as of this year, the central government no longer finances the program because of regional autonomy.

D. Togas, chief of the local education ministry office, said the students were sent to undergo the on-the-job-training program after their parents had agreed to shoulder all the costs needed to cover the program.

"The parents of the students have agreed to fully support the program because they are aware of the program's importance in improving the skills of their children. All travel, accommodation costs in addition to pocket money have been covered by the students," he said in a ceremony to see off the students at the airport.

Togas pledged that he would fight to insert the program in the province's 2002 education budget so that all funds needed to finance the apprenticeship program would be covered by the provincial administration.

"The provincial administration should support the program because it will benefit not only the students but also the province in general," he said.

He explained the 40 students, who were divided into eight groups, would undergo an apprenticeship program in professions that were in line with their own vocation.

"The eight groups of students will be trained in the fields of electronics, construction, architecture, electricity, industrial engineering, automotive, accountancy and administration. Our main target is that, besides practicing their proficiency in the English language, the students will gain skills and experience in their own discipline," he said, citing the program would take six months and the students would also receive an ISO-2000 certificate from the Davao chamber of commerce.

He said that after graduating from their vocational school, the students were expected to be ready for employment in their chosen vocation in the province.

He said more than 150 students of vocational high schools had joined the program and those who chose to work had been employed in strategic positions in many industries across the province.

"So, the program has really improved the quality of employment in the province," he added.

He added that Davao had also sent ten students to undergo an apprenticeship program in tourism in Bali and 20 others in the fishing industry in Cirebon, West Java, this year.

He added that the provincial administration was still seeking cooperation with the governments of Singapore and Malaysia to carry out such a program to improve the quality of human resources in the province.

Meanwhile, Governor A.J. Sondakh, who was asked to comment on the student exchange program, pledged to allocate special funds to finance the program in years to come.

"We will seek funds from the province's budget and local industries," he said.

He concurred and said the provincial government would seek scholarships from developed countries to send talented students to study overseas.

"Entering an era of autonomy and free trade, the province lacks professionals and skilled workers in all fields. We will also seek scholarships to send talented students to study overseas," he said.