Kusumasari Ayuningtyas, The Jakarta Post, Surakarta | Education | Fri, August 10 2012, 7:45 PM
PT Garuda Maintenance Facility (GMF) AeroAsia, a subsidiary of national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, plans to train vocational high school graduates from Surakarta, Central Java, in aircraft maintenance, following an agreement with Solo Techno Park (STP).
The agreement, signed on Friday, states that the GMF will appoint experts and professionals to train 94 vocational high school graduates.
STP’s cooperation division director, Darsono, said that his institution had been in correspondence with PT GMF since 2007 planning the program. PT GMF will hold the training sessions three times in 2012. The enrollment for the first training program will be opened in September.
He said that there was a tight selection process for the program. Only 24 participants would be accepted for the first session, he added. Each participant would undergo a nine-month training regime, including internship at PT GMF in the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng, Banten.
PT GMF’s vice director, Agus Sudaryo, said that he expected the program would produce experts and professionals in aircraft maintenance. Indonesia lacks professionals in that field.
“I hope that we can hire all the participants after they complete their training. We will also recommend them to other aircraft maintenance companies in Indonesia and abroad,” Agus said.
Meanwhile, Surakarta Deputy Mayor FX Hadi Rudyatmo said that the tuition fees were too high and might burden its would-be participants.
The fee for each participant is around Rp 55 million (US$5,830). PT GMF will give subsidy around Rp 27 million for each participant. Therefore, each will still have to pay Rp 28 million.
PT GMF would also appoint some banks to give loans for participants from low income families.
Hadi said the city council should also give financial aid for the participants, moreover for those in need.
“Often times, students from low income families have exceptional skill. Therefore, I hope the high tuition fee will prevent them from participating in the program,” he said. (riz/iwa)
