The collaboration between the government and industry sector in developing vocational school (SMK) graduates’ knowledge and competence is necessary to be implemented to achieve the value of the vocational education system.The Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry’s (Kemendikbudristek’s) Vocational Education Director General, Kiki Yuliati, outlined in a statement on Friday three central values currently exist within the vocational education system. ccording to Yuliati during a conference at Hannover Messe 2023, Germany, the first concern is how vocational education prepares good graduates and citizens, including those who love their country. The second involves the improving economic value of how vocational school graduates match the industry’s demands.Then the third relates to social value in which students need to understand that their existence in society should bring benefits.She said that to achieve these three central values, the ministry works with other ministries to map out the current and future needs.”This map will be the guideline for Kemendikbudristek to formulate policies that affect human resources according to need,” Yuliati added.She affirmed that the government prepares a workforce that matches the industry’s demand so that human resources absorption can achieve the highest level.Additionally, the ministry has divided the transformation under the Merdeka Belajar (Freedom in Learning) program into six categories: starting from the ecosystem, educators, pedagogy, curriculum, and evaluation in the learning system.Kemendikbudristek prioritizes student-based education by providing entertaining education. There are also scholarships starting from the industry scholarship, internship, the factory teaching at schools and campuses developed by the industry, Yuliati said.The Hannover Messe 2023 was held at the Hannover Fairground, Hannover, Germany, on April 17-21, 2023.The event is the biggest industry fair in Europe, featuring various technologies and innovations in the industry sector worldwide.

Source: Antara News Agency