Jakarta, Oct. 29 -- The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said it continues to prepare vocational high school (SMK) graduates to become professional, competitive workers through four strategic initiatives, among others, by focusing on local industries.

Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti said here on Wednesday that strengthening vocational education is aimed at meeting Indonesia's labor market demands.

One of the initiatives is the development of SMKs based on local strengths. Schools are encouraged to tailor their curricula to local industries, for example, focusing on coffee or tea production in regions known for these commodities.

The second initiative is the four-year program, which provides students w...