"Youth development becomes a priority to realize quality human resources and generation," the ministry's Deputy for Coordination of Children, Women, and Youth Quality Improvement, Femmy Eka Kartika Putri, noted in her statement here on Tuesday.
Putri highlighted three focus areas for youth development in the Government Work Program 2023, with the first being, the strengthening of cross-sectoral youth services, especially the coordination between central and regional governments.
The second area of focus is increasing the active participation of youth through innovation- and technology-based entrepreneurship as well as taking steps to prevent risky behaviors among youngsters, such as bullying, intolerance, and free sex.
Under the third priority, the ministry is also encouraging regional governments to optimize the role of youth in development programs.
"The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture is also encouraging the improvement of regional heads' commitment to youth development," she remarked.
According to Putri, youth development is a supporting factor for facing demographic dividends.
"This is crucial, considering that Indonesia will soon achieve a demographic dividend, so it must be utilized well. Through various intensive efforts, it is expected that Indonesia's productive age (population) will be filled with healthy, educated, and skilled people," she stated.
She further noted that the development of quality human resources should be started early on, right from the health and education aspects.
"Thus, it will support various efforts to realize quality human resources to welcome a demographic dividend," she stated.
Putri noted that quality human resources would play a strategic role in supporting economic and social development as well as increasing the nation's welfare.
"The government is encouraging youngsters to contribute to national development, especially human resource development, by improving their skills and potential," she remarked.
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Translator: Wuryanti Puspitasari, Raka Adji
Editor: Sri Haryati
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