Jakarta (ANTARA) - Cooperatives and SMEs Minister Teten Masduki collaborated with Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Minister Nadiem Makarim to improve the function of Special Needs School (SLB) to become First Party Professional Certification Institute (LSP-P1) for disabled.

Masduki noted that SLB's revitalization was aimed at using the school as an incubator place for students with disabilities.

"It is hoped that the skills owned by SLB students can become their capital to build their entrepreneurship spirit," the minister stated at the 2022 Unlimited Creation in Jakarta on Tuesday.

According to Masduki , based on the Social Welfare Index in 2020, as many as 72 percent of people with disabilities worked in the informal sector. Meanwhile, 22 percent of them were in the productive age group though did not have easy access to run their own business.

Apart from encouraging professional certification, Masduki noted that the government also facilitated access to funding for entrepreneurs with disabilities.

"We have also facilitated access to funding for persons with disabilities through the Revolving Fund Management Institution (LPDB) and would continue to improve this facility to reach more disability cooperatives," he remarked.

On the same occasion, Minister Makarim noted that skills education is one of the provisions for students with disabilities to blend into the community.

The development of SLB into LSP-P1 was also conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Manpower and the National Professional Certification Agency (BNSP).

"This program will change everything where children with disabilities can get a certification and receive various kinds of opportunities both in the field of entrepreneurship and in the field of work," the minister remarked.

Through LSP-P1, students with disabilities will receive relevant skills education and obtain skills competency certification to support their readiness to enter the world of work, including the world of entrepreneurship.

"Currently, there are 10 SLB education units in Indonesia that have been designated as LSP-P1 pilots,” he added.

Meanwhile, the acting head of public education and special education of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Aswin Wihdiyanto, stated that the 10 SLB transformed into LSP-P1 were focused on 10 types of skills.

"Later, there will be 10 other packages. Apart from mapping, we will also make adjustments to the needs of the world of work. However, it is dynamic, and if there is a new skills trend, we will follow up on it," he stated.

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Translator: Ade Irma J, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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