Transmigration Minister M. Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara said the ministry is currently offering cooperation to several investors to develop tourism vocational education centers in several transmigration areas.
“I will also visit the area in West Manggarai that we are offering to investors for the construction of a tourism vocational school to strengthen hospitality skills,” he said in a statement on Saturday.
According to Suryanagara, education plays a key role in enabling local communities to benefit from development and investment in their regions.
He expressed hope that increased investment in education and vocational education will strengthen human resource capacity in transmigration areas.
The minister also encouraged the establishment of a Mandarin language learning center, which could provide added value to local communities given the growing number of Chinese tourists visiting Labuan Bajo.
“Labuan Bajo has become a global tourist destination. We must ensure that local communities are not left behind. Therefore, education is the key for all of us,” he said.
Alongside efforts to build new schools, the ministry is also supporting the renovation and upgrading of existing educational facilities, including Desa Macang Tanggar Elementary School in Komodo Sub-district, Manggarai Barat District, NTT.
The minister also invited the Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Wang Lutong, to inspect the construction of toilet facilities at the elementary school.
“The children here are our future generation. We will do our best to support education in the transmigration area of West Manggarai,” Suryanagara said.
Regarding the planned Mandarin learning center in Labuan Bajo, Ambassador Wang said he expects demand for Mandarin-language skills to increase alongside growing investment and a rising number of Chinese tourists.
“I believe more investors will come here in the future, especially as more Chinese tourists visit Labuan Bajo. Therefore, learning Mandarin is important here,” he noted.
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Translator: Uyu Septiyati Liman, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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