The vision of Indonesia Emas 2045 is a major aspiration, aiming for significant improvement and transformation by the 100th anniversary of Indonesia’s independence, positioning the country among the world’s top four economies with a highly skilled and competitive workforce.
Unfortunately, Indonesia still faces major employment challenges, particularly high unemployment rates.
The 2023 World Bank report shows that Indonesia’s unemployment rate among the productive age group is 12.5 percent, the highest in ASEAN.
This occurs while Indonesia is experiencing a demographic bonus, with a larger population of the productive age compared to the non-productive age group.
Dr. Tatang Muttaqin, Director General of Vocational, Special, and Special Service Education at Indonesia’s Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, highlighted that employment is a pressing issue for Indonesia’s productive age population.
He says education and skills are crucial factors in preparing people to secure decent jobs and salaries.
“Everyone has the right to a decent job and to support their family better,” said Dr. Muttaqin at the ‘Ramadan on Campus’ event organized by UGM Campus Mosque on Tuesday, Mar. 11, 2025.
Dr. Muttaqin emphasized the need for students to prepare themselves to become skilled and productive, contributing to national development.
In addition to employment challenges, Dr. Muttaqin also addressed education issues.
He noted that Indonesian students have low self-confidence regarding education.
He cited the results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which found that only about 35% of Indonesian students believe education can improve their intelligence, compared to 70% in developed countries.
According to him, this indicates that many students feel that studying does not significantly impact their future.
“Their worldview influences the mindset of some people. They feel that they cannot change their fate more than others. This belief that ‘I can change my fate’ is a crucial factor in determining success in learning,” he explained.
He said that the balance between knowledge and faith is essential in shaping a generation’s character in Islam.
Individuals must not only possess knowledge and skills but also faith so they can contribute positively to society.
“Strong character is a combination of faith, piety, and knowledge in science and technology,” he stated.
Dr. Muttaqin also stressed that the government alone cannot fully realize the program to advance the nation’s intelligence and well-being.
All levels of education, from elementary schools to universities, supported by the private sector, can help the country achieve its goal of educating the nation.
In this way, everyone can have equal opportunities to pursue education and elevate their status through knowledge.
“There must be collaboration between the government, society, and all parties to ensure everyone has access to quality education,” he said.
Author: Tiefany
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang
Photograph: UGM Campus Mosque