With the certificate from the ministry, we believe that companies would seek its graduates."Kudus (ANTARA News) - Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has invited private sectors and universities to develop maritime studies and vocational schools to meet the demand for qualified human resources for the domestic maritime industry.
"As a vast maritime country, we are still facing a lack of human resources for ship captains and shipping operators with international certificate. We need more maritime vocational schools," Budi Karya stated here on Thursday.
The minister attended the granting of the ministrys approval certificate to Wisudha Karya vocational school (SMK) that has met the Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping (STCW) 2010 of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Wisudha Karya has become one of the three maritime vocational schools in Indonesia to have received the certificate.
The certificate would allow its graduates to obtain license as ship officers in foreign as well as domestic merchant vessels.
Budi admitted that the government has limited capability to establish maritime vocational schools.
Indonesia would need more internationally certified captains for ships of the national shipping industry, he noted.
"The Transportation Ministry would open the opportunity for private sector to develop maritime vocational schools," he stated.
Meanwhile, Program Director of Djarum Foundation Primadi Serad remarked that the foundation would continue its support for Indonesias maritime industry and provide necessary equipment.
"With the certificate from the ministry, we believe that companies would seek its graduates," he revealed, adding that the students would have a wider opportunity to improve their career as professional sailors.
Djarum Foundation and a Japanese private company have bought a Norwegian-made Kongsberg K-Sim Navigation Simulator for students of nautical science.
Wisudha Karya is the only vocational school in Indonesia that has the advanced class A full mission bridge simulator.
Its graduates would receive class IV certificate of deck officer.
(Reported by Ahmad Wijaya/Uu.S022/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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