Indonesia-United Kingdom Agrees on Vocational Education Cooperation

INDUSTRY.co.id - UK - The Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud) and the United Kingdom agreed on cooperation in the field of vocational education that will be marked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding in the near future.

"There needs to be learning reform in the classroom, curriculum orientation change, and revitalization of vocational education in vocational high school (SMK)," said Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy when contacted from Jakarta on Thursday.

Currently, Mendikbud is in London, England, participating in the World Education Forum. On that occasion, Mendikbud Muhadjir Effendy held a dialogue with the Minister of Education of the UK Rt Hon Nick Gibb MP.

Mendikbud emphasized the importance of revitalizing SMK along with the competence or expertise needed to build Indonesian society and nation, especially with the demographic bonus that is owned by Indonesia.

Both ministers exchanged ideas about the experience of educational reform in their respective countries; expectations, opportunities, and challenges.

The two ministers also agreed to continue to cooperate in mutual benefit, which in the near future will be preceded by the signing of a memorandum of understanding that has been in the stage of completion.

The government is focusing on strengthening vocational education and becoming one of the priorities in education policy in 2018. In addition to improving the curriculum and improving the quality of teachers, partnerships with industry will be enhanced.

Muhadjir Effendy said there are five aspects that will be strengthened by the government in strengthening vocational education program. The five aspects are curriculum improvement, teacher quality improvement, facilities and infrastructure improvement, "teaching factory" program, and increasing industrial cooperation.

Then, the curriculum will be made a minimum of 60: 40 ratios. As many as 60 percent of the curriculum in the form of practical work in the industrial world, and as much as 40 percent in the form of theory in the classroom.