INDUSTRY.co.id - Bandung - the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) continues to produce graduates of vocational schools with the mastery of applied expertise in certain industries, especially in the priority sector. In this case, Balai Besar Keramik (BBK) Bandung together with Industrial Education and Training Center of Ministry of Industry took part in the implementation of the vocational program.

"We have given ceramic technology training to 30 vocational school teachers (SMK) originating from East Java, Central Java, West Java, D.I. Yogyakarta and Banten, "said Head of BBK Supomo, in Bandung (4/8/2017).

The training, which was held on 17-28 July 2017, aims to improve the competence of vocational school teachers in the field of ceramic technology to fit the needs of the industry today. "BBK designed the training with complete exposure and practices ranging from ceramic raw materials processing to ceramic forming, filtration, to burning," said Supomo.

The training, he continued, BBK took one ceramic tile industry PT Gemilang Mitra Sejahtera to share knowledge about the production process. "We also bring SMK teachers to visit the factory located in Subang and also UPTD Ceramics in Purwakarta (Sentra Ceramic Plered), "he said.

Supomo hopes, with the increasing insight of vocational teachers after attending ceramic training, they can transfer knowledge and technology to their students more optimally. Thus, the target of producing graduates who are skilled and ready to work especially in the field of ceramic technology can be achieved.

Head of BBK believes that the growth of the national ceramics industry is still quite prospective in line with the growing domestic market. Moreover, government programs, one of which focuses on public housing, is expected to boost national ceramic consumption.

"The ceramic industry has a great advantage and potential because it has abundant raw material availability with a large enough ceramic raw material deposit and spread in various regions in Indonesia," said Supomo.

Activities undertaken by BBK Bandung and Pusdiklat Industri is a real manifestation of vocational education programs that link and match between SMK with industry to produce skilled and productive workforce. The implementation of the industrial vocational program is based on Presidential Instruction Number 9 of 2016 on the Revitalization of Vocational Secondary Schools.

"In the Inpres, the Ministry of Industry received the task, among others, to increase cooperation with the business world, to provide wider access for vocational students in doing field work and industrial apprenticeship program for teachers," said Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto.

Kemenperin noted, there are currently 58 ceramic tile companies with installed capacity of more than 537 million m² per year, with employment of 62 thousand people. The volume
Placing Indonesia as the sixth ceramic producing country after China, India, Brazil, Spain and Iran.

As for the category of tableware industry, there are 12 companies with a capacity of more than 274 million pieces per year involving 17 thousand workers. In addition, Indonesia
Also has six companies in the production of sanitary ware industry reaching 5.5 million pieces per year with a workforce of 9,174 people.