"Prakerja Card Program has proven that we are committed to supporting individuals in their lifelong learning journeys," Hartarto remarked via a video broadcast during the 2023 Inclusive Lifelong Learning Conference (ILLC) in Badung District, Bali on Monday.
Minister Hartarto noted that the program's success in improving the skills and knowledge of its beneficiaries could easily be proven.
According to the minister, the employment rate of the program's beneficiaries increased by 12 percent. In fact, the studying habit with digital technology has reached 90 percent.
"All the achievements are supported by independent evaluations that help the government affirm its commitment to providing high-quality training courses and promoting lifelong learning," he noted.
Furthermore, Hartarto highlighted that the evaluations helped the program integrate digital technology into learning practices and offer an array of training options according to the beneficiaries' interests and needs.
The minister also drew attention to the fact that the government had launched the program during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and has helped 17 million people since.
"Indonesia is blessed with abundant natural resources, but the key factor to make our nation prosper is the efforts to produce high-quality manpower," Hartarto pointed out.
To that end, he said, the government needs to formulate feasible policies and effective programs while collaborating with relevant stakeholders to promote lifelong learning.
That was the very reason that drove Indonesia to collaborate with the Institute for Lifelong Learning of UNESCO to hold the 2023 ILLC.
The conference is being held in Bali on July 3-6 and attended by over 300 participants from 40 countries.
In his speech, Minister Hartarto also echoed the government's pride in collaborating with UNESCO to launch the #ImALifelongLearner campaign.
"Let us promote this campaign as a forum to emphasize that all people, regardless of their ages and backgrounds, have the right to obtain education," he concluded.
Translator: Sean Filo, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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