Implementation of Competence Certification Test for the Improvement of Vocational School of Work Graduation Readiness

摘要

With the enactment of the ASEAN Economic Community, it allows increased mobility and competition for labor freely among ASEAN member countries. This is a challenge for the Government of Indonesia to produce vocational graduates who are competent and highly competitive through Presidential Instruction No. 9 of 2016 concerning Revitalization of Vocational Schools. Based on the direction of the vocational education policy, several questions arise as follows: (1) what is meant by the competency certification test?; (2) what is the purpose of the competency certification test?; (3) what benefits will be obtained by carrying out the competency certification test?; and (4) what are the implications of the competency certification test on the work readiness of vocational graduates? This research is carried out through a literature review of the implementation of competency tests in several relevant vocational schools. Research concludes: (1) competency certification test is an assessment of individual performance, about how far the person concerned has been able to demonstrate knowledge and skills in their field; (2) the purpose of the competency certification test is to ensure students or vocational graduates can do work with industry-determined standards; (3) the benefits of competency certification are in recognition of the workforce in accordance with the required work competency standards; and (4) the implications of the certification test on work readiness of vocational graduates is that the level of work readiness of vocational graduates increases so that the opportunity to immediately get a job becomes higher.