One Vocational School in East Nusa Tenggara Requires Budget of IDR 2.7 Billion
East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Government (Pemprov NTT) is targeting the development of vocational-based schools across 11 regions by 2026. The programme will require a budget of IDR 2.7 billion per school.
“The government is allocating IDR 2.7 billion per location with supporting facilities,” said Ambrosius Kodo, Head of the Department of Education and Culture (Disdikbud) NTT, on Friday (13 March 2026).
Currently, Disdikbud NTT is in the process of determining which schools will be converted to a vocational basis. Kodo targets the completion of vocational school development this year.
“We are currently in the planning process, ensuring the locations. We must start quickly so we can make better use of our time,” he added.
The programme does not involve building new schools but rather strengthening vocational education in existing schools. He explained that the development of vocational schools is being carried out with an approach focused on strengthening skills based on regional potential.
According to Ambrosius, vocational-based schools will be distributed across 11 regencies in NTT, including Ende, East Manggarai, Rote Ndao, Sabu Raijua, South Central Timor (TTS), East Sumba, Southwest Sumba, East Flores, and others.
He stated that the development of vocational schools will be equipped with various supporting facilities, such as male and female dormitories, student practical training spaces, teacher housing, sanitation facilities, and boreholes. Additionally, internet facilities will be provided to support teaching and learning activities.
“This includes building male and female dormitories, student practical training spaces, teacher housing, sanitation facilities, and boreholes. The school locations we are targeting will be in rural areas, not in cities,” he explained.
Ambrosius stated that the provision of dormitory facilities aims to assist students from low-income families whilst reducing educational costs.
“The reason is to cut educational costs for parents, since students will live in dormitories. By living in dormitories, student needs such as internet access and so forth can be more economical since they will use them at school,” explained Kodo.
According to him, the dormitory system also allows the learning process to be more focused because students receive more intensive guidance from teachers.
“Since they live in dormitories, their study time and teacher supervision is longer, allowing us to emphasise local potential,” he continued.
The vocational school programme will be tailored to the economic strengths of each region. For example, in Rote Ndao Regency a vocational school focused on salt production potential will be developed, whilst in South Central Timor Regency the focus will be on agriculture and livestock sectors.
“For example, in Rote, there is potential in areas such as salt production, and in TTS agriculture and so forth according to local potential in each region,” he said.
Previously, Pemprov NTT had planned to establish 10 vocational schools based on regional potential by 2026. This programme is being prepared to improve the quality of human resources and optimise economic strengths in each area.
“Next year we will prepare 10 vocational schools based on regional potential,” said NTT Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, during a morning briefing with media at his official residence on Friday (19 December 2025).
According to Laka Lena, vocational schools will be designed in accordance with the character and strengths of each region. Students will not only receive formal education but also practical skills relevant to local needs.
“Children can study there whilst also working to develop the regional potential that exists in their area,” said this politician from Golkar party.