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View all search resultsMinistry's new program for vocational school dropouts meets with cautious approval
The schools ministry has launched a new program that aims to arm vocational school dropouts with the skills they need to land a job, though some experts have cautioned that the government must address the root cause for a sustainable solution.
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Participants carve wood on June 24, 2025, during a creative economy training workshop in Bogor, West Java.
(Antara/Yulius Satria Wijaya)
A
new nonformal education program that aims to reintegrate vocational school dropouts into the workforce has been met with skepticism, even as calls persist for the government to prioritize dropout prevention abandonment and ensure that job training courses focus on skills needed in today’s market.
Launched by the Elementary and Secondary Education Ministry on June 30, the program aims to enroll 1,000 vocational school nongraduates at training centers (LKP) nationwide that offer a choice between a work skills program (PKK) or an entrepreneurship skills program (PKW).
The dropout retraining program, according to schools minister Abdul Mu’ti, reflects the government’s commitment to revitalizing nonformal education opportunities.
“What is demanded today isn’t just diplomas, but skills competencies,” Mu’ti said. “This program offers dropouts a bigger chance to compete in the job market or start their own businesses.”
The program is to be rolled out this year in 33 provinces, with each regional administration responsible for identifying eligible participants and referring them to designated training centers.
Upon completing the program, which can last up to two months, PKK participants are expected to enter the workforce within a year, while those from the PKW program are to launch their own businesses immediately.
Launched in response to the high vocational school dropout rate, Mu’ti said the government expected the program to not only benefit individual beneficiaries but also help reduce the national unemployment rate.
