Educated unemployed, who is wrong?

By: Nugroho SBM

Talking about unemployment, there is an interesting phenomenon to ponder the problem of educated unemployment in Indonesia. Based Sakernas (National Labor Force Survey 2006) unemployment in Indonesia (those who did not work) according to the level of education is mostly high school graduates by 36 percent and "defeat" those who are primary school graduates at 32.74 percent. This means that it broke the fact all this time that unemployment in Indonesia is largely because of low education to those who have only a maximum of primary school graduates.

The other fact, never became a major debate in the year 2007 and till now still relevant is the existence of unemployment with a relatively high education graduates of 400,000 people (the position in 2007). Although in absolute numbers of unemployed graduates is quite small but this is pretty amazing phenomenon because there has been an assumption in society that because it is "a rare creature" then scholars will easily find a job. But the fact is it did not. See 2 (two) phenomena such educated unemployed, the question is: is there any one of our educational system or other factors?

High School Graduates

Answer the question who is wrong may not be generalizable. For the educated unemployed high school graduates than there are some errors in the Indonesian education system. During these high school graduates did not have much choice means they have to continue on to college. For those who can not go on to college, can not work because it is not directly supplied by prkatis skills to work.
To overcome this problem could perhaps exemplified, for example, the existing education system in Australia. In Australia, high school applied for 4 years (meaning that there is grade 1 to grade 4). After 3 years or at the end of 3rd grade students who performed the evaluation should not continue to the grade 4 and who is allowed to continue to class 4. They are not allowed to proceed to grade 3 is considered not have a stock of intellectual and analytical skills sufficient to proceed to university, it is suggested into the kind of polytechnics that provide a practical skill. While they are allowed up to class 4 is considered a stock of intellectual and analytical skills sufficient to proceed to university. Although allowed to continue on to university, high school graduates this class 4 may also choose to continue to polytechnics that provide practical skills. I think Indonesia can implement this kind of education system to cope with unemployment high school graduates.

Actually, the number of unemployed high school graduates who indicated a prestige factor in situ. That is, many junior high school student who just knows that this is now quite difficult to find work and therefore they are actually quite safe to resume at SMK (Vocational High School), which ensures he gets a job. Eg vocational fields are still many needs are machinery, electronics, electrical, pharmaceutical, taxation, computers, and many more. But nevertheless they remain desperate to continue to high school because high school is considered more prestigious than the CMS. It recently aired television ads that often led to junior high school graduates go on to vocational school for no less prestigious than vocational high school and ensure a more certain to get a job. But that step to be followed by other propaganda efforts eg through investment in family values.

Another side of the number of unemployed high school graduates is the fact a lot of high school graduates who could not go to university. The main reason they could not proceed to university education is the cost factor. Because if the capacity limitation factor which has implications on the terms of intellectual ability seemed unlikely. This is evident from the many who complained about the lack of private universities so that students actually without tespun prospective students will be accepted.

Expensive cost factor as a major factor can not be high school graduates go on to university has become increasingly worse after the earlier public universities are considered public university where the tuition fee even this cheap now become "private". Being a "Private" means that a subsidy from the government revoked the tuition fee and the university became an independent body or in other words, such as private universities. We do not know what exactly the idea behind this privatization of public universities. Because the father of economics Adam Smith is considered to teach economics or economic liberalism, which is based on market mechanisms as a regulator clearly pointed out that education is one of the matters which must be held by the state. Or worry a lot when the first party is now the new education minister was first appointed as an economist he will "economize" proved education today? I really do not know. Fortunately the law on "Badan Hukum Pendidikan" (BHP) has been revoked, then the subsidy should be given back to the university.

Graduated Unemployer

How about the graduated unemployer? Does the education system to blame for this? According to me not. Comparing current conditions with conditions in 70 Years to 80 Years when Indonesia was enjoying booming crude oil. At that time a student who had not completed college S1 has been offered a job. So they want to work in institutions that offer such work, these agencies do the "debt bondage" that is by giving a scholarship or salary advances. This suggests that scholars had been offered occupation because there was a field of work although they had been graduated yet.

In contrast to the present. Currently there are no or rare new investment in Indonesia. So if there are unemployed not because of university graduates who can not educate but do not mistake that the government can provide employment for its citizens including those who graduated.

The problem is: why no new investment in Indonesia? Many factors, but few of them: first, high-cost economy in an investment still occurs today with the official and unofficial levies especially in this era of regional autonomy. Second, the absence of long-term direction of economic development in Indonesia. There Long-Term Development Plan (RPJP) until the year 2025. But when read carefully, there is no clear direction on how the long-term direction of the Indonesian economy. Whereas the long-term direction is very important because the investment is long-term time perspective. Third, policy inconsistencies still occur. It means that between the rules can be much different with its implementation or application in various levels of government can vary. For example one-stop services in the investment license or OSS (One Stop Service) interpretation can be different for each region. There are just a public relations office but there has really one-stop service office. If you want to unemployed sarja lost then the government should encourage investment and to encourage investment, the barriers to invest should be abolished.