After Infrastructure, Jokowi Will Develop Human Resources

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo alias Jokowi said that the government will be focusing on developing human resources having previously stepping up infrastructure development. Education will be the government’s main focus.

Jokowi said that the government will improve the quality of vocational education, training and polytechnic. “A major shakeup is a must,” he said yesterday at JCC in Jakarta. As many as 60 percent of Indonesian workers are elementary and junior high school graduates.

He said that the country needs to improve the quality of education as fast as possible. He said that Indonesia has little time to catch up with the developed countries.

Quality education can be achieved by improving the teachers. President Jokowi said that vocational schools are currently hiring normative teachers. “It should be 80 percent life skill teachers who can teach our children to enhance their ability,” he said.

He said that normative teachers are those teaching Indonesian language, civic education and religions. The subjects are still needed but there should be more subjects that can improve children ability. For example, subjects to solve problems and find solutions. “Less rote learning,” Jokowi said.

The former Solo mayor said that he will push innovation by raising the budget for research. The innovations are expected to meet the needs of the society and businesses world.

Jokowi said that universities must contribute to change the curriculum according to recent developments. “University curriculum has not changed for too long, it’s been 30 years,” he said. He said that universities ought to open field of studies and faculties suitable for the world development, such as the faculty of digital economy or the field of studies of logistic and e-commerce.

VINDRY FLORENTIN