Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has said education is an important element for a nation to achieve better welfare and to make its people more productive and competitive.

"For the past four years, we have focused on strengthening education and vocational training to produce skilled human resources who are ready to enter the workforce," the president noted in his annual state of the nation address to Parliament here on Thursday, prior to the celebration of Indonesia`s 73rd Independence Day on August 17.

The president also encouraged further breakthroughs in higher education to produce college graduates who can adapt to the Industrial Revolution 4.0 era.

Indonesia`s college graduates are also expected to have strong digital literacy and a leaning toward creative and innovative entrepreneurship.

"The fast-growing productive generation in Indonesia will push us to work harder to create new jobs by increasing the competitiveness of investments and exports," Jokowi remarked.

The president added that Indonesia has entered the High Human Development category due to the increasing quality of life of the country?s people. Indonesia`s Human Development Index increased from 68.90 in 2014 to 70.81 in 2017.

Reported by Dewanto Samodro
Edited by Yuni Arisandy, Fardah Assegaf

Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018