Many Vocational High School and University Graduates Participate in BLK Training

Vocational training centers (BLKs) are government-provided facilities aimed at improving Indonesia's human resources. Vocational training at BLKs attracts participants from diverse educational backgrounds, including vocational high school (SMK) and university (PT) graduates.

Data from the Ministry of Manpower shows that between 2014 and 2017, the number of participants from these two educational backgrounds fluctuated. For SMK graduates, participation doubled from 7,631 in 2014 to 15,206 in 2015.

The highest number of participants was recorded in 2016 at 21,616, before dropping to 8,348 the following year. For university graduates, participation in 2016 reached 5,151. The numbers for 2015 and 2017 were almost identical, around 3,000 participants.

This data indicates that BLK training is an alternative option for SMK and university graduates to gain skills before entering the workforce. However, fundamental issues exist, particularly concerning SMK graduates. According to the Minister of National Development Planning, Bambang Brodjonegoro, SMK graduates do not always meet the needs of the business world, partly due to the difficulty of adapting SMK curricula to keep pace with current demands.

(Read Databoks: 303 Vocational Training Centers Spread Across Indonesia)