News: The Minister of Education and Culture Encourages the Development of Local Products to Support Learning

The Minister of Education and Culture Encourages the Development of Local Products to Support Learning

Published on: 12/12/2020

Jakarta, Ministry of Education and Culture - Minister of Education and Culture (Mendikbud) Nadiem Anwar Makarim stated that the Ministry of Education and Culture (Mendikbud) itself has the potential for many unique and local products with high sales value. Therefore, he appreciates the presence of these products and their development to support learning needs.

The products in question are produced by alumni, course and training institutions, vocational schools, universities, and other vocational education institutions. One example is Estima. The Minister of Education and Culture explained that Estima is an electronics brand with a production base in Solo, with flagship products being interactive LCD ( liquid crystal display ) panels and laptops.

"I have the laptop here, it's an extraordinary product of our nation. Specifically, Estima will collaborate with vocational schools (SMK) to assemble these two products, which are expected to support learning in educational institutions more broadly," said the Minister of Education and Culture in a virtual speech at the "Product Expo and Arts and Culture Performance" event in Jakarta (December 12).

Elsewhere, the Minister of Education and Culture expressed his delight and pride in seeing several examples of distinctive local culinary products, such as carica fruit, coffee, jengkol rendang, and even local kimchi. “Let’s see , there are Dieng Cabe sweets. We have To Me Coffee, a genuine Lampung coffee. There is homemade kimchi, this is one of my favorites, locally made kimchi. There is carica juice, there is beef rendang, jengkol rendang, and also various coffee products, such as civet coffee here, and also Cikole civet coffee, extraordinary. These are products made by the pride of our nation’s children,” he explained.

In order to support the Proudly Made in Indonesia Movement (GBBI) which was inaugurated by President Joko Widodo on May 14, 2020, the Ministry of Education and Culture also held the Gernas BBI campaign activities on December 1-15, 2020. The event, which was motivated by the aim of stimulating the local product market, culminated in a "Product Expo and Cultural Arts Performance" for digital content held at the National Gallery of Indonesia, Jakarta, on December 12, 2020.

The activities include introducing products from educational institutions under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Culture and/or local regional products using the hashtag #HANYAADADISINI. These products are also published on the Ministry of Education and Culture's social media channels.

Minister Nadiem hopes that GBBI will become a sustainable platform to continue encouraging the creation of the nation's best products and strengthening marketing through digital channels. This will enable its target market to reach a wider audience, not only nationally but also internationally.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Vocational Education (Dirjen Diksi), Ministry of Education and Culture, Wikan Sakarinto, also wants local products produced by vocational education units, namely vocational high schools (SMK), polytechnics/national community academies (AKN), and course and training institutions (LKP); to be better known to the public. "Education and literacy of love and pride in using domestic products must continue to be instilled from an early age, especially in the millennial generation," said Wikan Sakarinto.

In addition to involving educational institutions under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Culture and MSMEs to introduce a variety of local products, the "Product Expo and Cultural Arts Performance" also featured a variety of engaging performances. These included contemporary dance choreographed by Deni Malik, casual discussions with relevant directorates general and influencers , a fashion show by SMK NU Banat Kudus, a Tik Tok Challenge , and a musical performance by Ian Antono and Naida. All activities were held under strict health protocols.

"Therefore, let us be proud to use Indonesian-made products," the Minister of Education and Culture urged as he concluded his speech. ***(Denty.A/Aline.R)