North Sulawesi sends 40 students to Philippines

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.