"We must improve the quality of our human resources to compete at the global level and take advantage of the demographic bonus that we have," Fauziyah said at the 2021 Vocational Award Training here on Thursday.
Current and future employment conditions require workers to learn to work simultaneously and continuously develop their skills and knowledge, she noted.
This makes vocational training, reskilling, and upskilling necessary for workers to increase their competency and help them face competition, Fauziyah added.
Indonesia will become a poor and old country if it does not take advantage of the demographic bonus period, during which its productive age population will be larger than the unproductive one, the minister said.
People in the productive age groups need to improve their competency to compete at the global level, she added.
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"I believe that vocational training with its various advantages will be a solution to accelerate and fulfill the needs of skilled workers," she remarked.
Referring to the 2021 Vocational Training Award, which was held for the first time by the Ministry of Manpower, she said it was not only a reflection of achievements in the field of vocational training but also symbolized the spirit and commitment to continue building excellence in the midst of change.
"When socio-economic conditions are filled by various kinds of disruption and uncertainty, it turns out that there are still many vocational training activists who are able to prove themselves. Their resilience is the strength of Indonesian human resources, who do not easily give up despite being hit by many problems," she remarked.
Earlier, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) had asked vocational high schools (SMK) to ensure that their graduates possess skills in related sectors.
Vocational teachers must ensure that SMK graduates possess adequate skills to meet the requirements of industries and generate jobs, secretary-general of Kemendikbudristek, Suharti, said.
SMK graduates must be in a position to ensure good welfare through their skills, she added.
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Translator: Prisca T V, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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