SMKN 61 Pulau Tidung Produces Global Maritime Talent, Sends Graduates to Japan

SMK Negeri 61 in the Kepulauan Seribu Regency, DKI Jakarta Province, is producing globally competitive vocational human resources in the maritime sector by sending its graduates to work in Japan. School head Firdaus stated that the institution is currently focused on expanding overseas job opportunities for its graduates, particularly in Japan, through cooperation with job training agencies and support from programmes under the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. He mentioned that ten students are currently undergoing preparatory stages to join a job placement programme in Japan this year. These students are participating in training and will be dispatched once they meet the specified requirements. Firdaus further explained that the graduates working in Japan do not come from just one field of study. Their placements are tailored to industry needs, ranging from fisheries agribusiness to construction and other sectors. ‘There are various fields, some in fisheries agribusiness, some in construction. It is not absolutely necessary for the placement to be linear with the competency field studied at school. It usually follows the needs of the industry,’ he said. Currently, SMKN 61 Jakarta has several partners supporting overseas employment opportunities. For Japan specifically, Firdaus noted that three partnerships are active, one of which is with Brexa. He added that the dispatch process is carried out in stages, as students must first undergo training. This is because graduates require not only job competence but also Japanese language skills. ‘Japanese language preparation is provided. It is usually focused on during the 12th grade and continued during the pre-departure training,’ he said.