Vocational high schools or SMKs (Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan) in Indonesia play a vital role in preparing students for the workforce. Unlike general high schools, SMKs offer specialized majors that equip students with technical and practical skills. However, as industries evolve with rapid technological changes, not all majors remain relevant.
Consequently, it’s crucial to review, update, or even discontinue certain SMK majors to align them with current and future job market demands. But which ones need reevaluation?
Majors That Need Urgent Modernization
Some SMK majors are still based on outdated industry practices, leading to a mismatch between graduate skills and real-world needs. For instance:
1. Office Administration (Administrasi Perkantoran)
This major, once highly relevant, now risks becoming obsolete. Many administrative tasks have been replaced by automation, AI, and cloud-based systems. While soft skills like communication and organization are still useful, the curriculum must shift toward digital literacy, data management, and productivity tools.
2. Traditional Printing (Teknologi Grafika Konvensional)
With the rise of digital publishing and media, demand for traditional printing jobs has dropped significantly. Students would benefit more from a revised curriculum focusing on digital design, social media content creation, and multimedia production.
❌ Majors That Should
While updating is ideal, some programs may be too outdated or irrelevant to modern careers. These include:
1. Mechanized Typing (Mengetik Mesin)
Though once a core skill, this major is no longer practical. In today’s world, everyone uses computers, and typing is a basic skill learned early.
2. Analog Electronics (Elektronika Analog Murni)
As modern devices move toward digital electronics, IoT, and automation, focusing only on analog systems is limiting. Schools should transition to teaching smart electronics and embedded systems to prepare students for future tech roles.
Majors That Should Be Introduced or Expanded
To keep pace with global innovation, SMKs must not only drop outdated majors but also add forward-thinking ones:
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Renewable Energy Engineering
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Game Development and Animation
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Data Analytics and AI
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Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking
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Digital Marketing and E-Commerce
These fields are in high demand and offer students clear pathways to meaningful careers.
✅ Conclusion:
In conclusion, SMK programs must continuously evolve. While some traditional majors may still offer foundational skills, many need to be restructured or replaced to reflect modern realities.
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