Advancement of a nation is determined by the quality of human resources. Hence, the government has set a development priority to improve human resources in the coming five years.
The development of human resources must be able to turn an Indonesian population of 260 million into a major force of Indonesia.
"Not only to support acceleration in economic growth, but it should also be able to improve the welfare to catch up with common progress," President Jokowi remarked while chairing a limited cabinet meeting at the Bogor Palace on Wednesday (Nov 21).
Jokowi stated that a large stage of infrastructure development has been going on, and several projects have been completed. Hence, his government will enter the next major stage, which is investment in the field of human resources to boost development.
According to Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, as part of the efforts to improve the country`s human resources, the government will lay emphasis on development in the education and health sectors.
In the health sector, the government is committed to solving the problem of malnutrition in the country that makes people prone to diseases, including the problem of stunting. It is therefore committed to reducing the rate of stunting.
"Indonesia is a vast country, and it is certainly not easy to solve the problem of stunting in a short period of time," Pandjaitan noted.
"Stunting," or chronic malnutrition, is common among children in their growing years. Symptoms of stunting usually arise due to low access to health services, clean water, and nutritious food.
"The development of human resources is important, so the target (of development) is the two relevant sectors of education and health," Pandjaitan had stated in Jakarta on Wednesday (Nov 22).
He said that in five years, the government will build massive polytechnic schools.
"Alike infrastructure development, we will also build massive polytechnics," Pandjaitan stated.
The coordinating minister for maritime affairs further noted that in addition to increasing the capacity of human resources, the government will continue with the development of infrastructure, bureaucratic and legal reforms, and industries having added value.
To increase the people`s skills and knowledge, the government will allocate 20 percent of the state budget for development of the education sector. In the meantime, the state budget allocation for the health sector will account for some five percent.
"The budget allocation for education will be directed at building polytechnics and vocational schools, as currently, the numbers are very small," the minister revealed.
This especially holds significance as the quality of human resources is not yet in line with expectations. This is reflected in the recruitment of civil services.
In a recent test for civil servant recruitment, the government needed 200 thousand new recruits but less than 100 thousand managed to clear the test.
"Out of the 1.8 million people (who took the entry test), only eight percent, or less than 100 thousand (applicants), passed out of the required 200 thousand people," Vice President Jusuf Kalla stated after receiving the results of the entry test from Minister of the Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Syafruddin on Thursday (Nov 15).
Hence, Kalla stressed the need to improve education and equalization system for education in Java and outside Java Island. The government will continue to improve the Indonesian education system by following existing technological developments.
President Jokowi has ordered the allocation of budget funds to strengthen educational institutions, researchers, and other segments, including Islamic boarding schools under the purview of the Religious Affairs Ministry.
According to Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, the Indonesian government has committed to allocating 20 percent of the state budget to the education sector. Budget allocations for the education sector had reached Rp440 trillion in 2018, and the figure is expected to increase to nearly Rp500 trillion next year.
Part of the education budget is allocated for the sovereign wealth fund to finance college students` scholarships through the Educational Fund Management Institute, among others.
Indrawati remarked that the number of college students receiving scholarships had reached more than 18 thousand. Of the total, some seven thousand students had completed their study, while the rest are still studying.
"The fund includes Rp55 trillion for community groups that deserve higher attention next year," she remarked.
In fact, Indrawati believes that all parties, the government and opposition, share a similar passion to improve the quality of education in Indonesia.
"In terms of education, we envision and harbor the same aspiration to improve the quality of education, and it is highly lauded," Indrawati noted in Jakarta on Wednesday (Nov 22) in response to a call from the opposition party.
Deputy of the National Success Team of Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno presidential and vice presidential candidates Mardani Ali Sera has proposed that a professional teacher having certification should be paid up to Rp20 million per month.
Reporter: Andi Abdussalam
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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