Vocational Education and Training (VET) for Maritime Safety

: Vocational education has been developed as a solution to unemployment problem in Indonesia. The government through The Ministry of Education and Culture has increased vocational education in number. However, in 2016, vocational education unexpectedly produced the largest number of unemployment compared to other kinds of education. The objective of this research was to describe qualitatively the relevance between Indonesian vocational education curriculum to the 21st century skills and competencies in maritime. The writer applied library research method. The writer studied the curriculum of vocational schools and the 21st skills and competencies concerning with maritime safety. The result showed that the curriculum of maritime vocational education is not relevant to 21st century skills and competencies needed by maritime companies and industries. Irrelevance of vocational school curriculum to skills and competencies needed by industry and company has caused the explosion of unemployment in Indonesia. Consequently, the Indonesian government views vocational education as one of the focus of mid-term and long-term strategic plan for human resources management. For that reason, the government issued the Presidential Directive (INPRES) Number 9 2016 on Vocational School Revitalization. The president instructs ministers and governors to collaborate with vocational education institutions to create linked and matched institution to competencies and skills to industrial and company needs. The outcomes standards of vocational education must be suited to global standards or qualifications of maritime skills and competencies needed by the industries and companies. Vocational schools and institutions of maritime should consult and collaborate with The Ministry of Maritime and fisheries of Indonesia to produces human resources for maritime safety. Good collaboration between vocational schools, government and industries will result highly competitive and skillful seafarers and workers. Therefore, maritime companies and industries can collaborate with vocational schools in term of producing skillful and competent human resources..