Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Agriculture Ministry through the Agriculture Human Resources Development Board (BPPSDMP) has allocated Rp600 billion in the 2019 state budget to finance expansion of Agricultural Development Polytechnic Education Center (Polbangtan).

"In 2019, there is a fund of Rp600 billion for the development of new campus for Polbangtan in Gowa and the strengthening of `teaching factory` in six units of Polbangtan," head of BPPSDMP Momon Rusmono said here on Tuesday.

Momon said allocation of budget would be focused on development of new campus of Indonesian Agriculture Engineering Polytechnic (PEPI) in Serpong, which will later become Agriculture Mechanization Center.

Budget fund to finance development of the campus of Polbangtan in Gowa, South Sulawesi is around Rp40 billion - Rp50 billion.

Polbangtan of Gowa is a form of transformation of vocational education by BPPSDMP, from Agriculture Illumination Institute (STPP) into Polbangtan.

STPP was oriented more to agricultural extension , but Polbangtan is oriented more to directing its student to become "socioagripreneurs" , entrepreneurs in the agricultural, animal husbandry and plantation sector.

With the change in orientation , the method of education also would change. Polbangtan would adopt "teaching factory" (30 percent in theory and 70 percent in practice) oriented to turning out young entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector.

Therefore, in addition to developing new campus the budget is also needed for "teaching factory" in six units of Polbangtan of the Agriculture Ministry in Medan, Bogor, Yogyakarta-Magelang, Malang, Gowa and Manokwari.

"The process of teaching and learning with practices would certainly higher in cost, but it is for education. Therefore, we cooperate with the business world, industrial world and the research and development centers. They have the facilities," Momon said.

In addition to the budget of Rp600 billion , which is from the state budget, BPPSDMP also is seeking support from the World Bank to develop facilities and infrastructure and teaching staff.

Reporting by Mentari Dwi Gayati
Editing by Fardah Assegaf

Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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