ISSUES IN CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT ANDDECENTRALIZATION OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION TO NATIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH: THE CASE OF INDONESIA

ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) will be started next year 2015. ASEAN country members needbe ready toexchange, or even to compete their products or services. Skilled labor is essential to be possessed by all the country members to successfully participate in AEC. Vocational school is a strategic institution assigned to prepare its students to possess competence for work in certain occupation. Therefore, the curriculum of vocational education needs to be developed then consistently executed in such a way to gain expected skilled labors. This paper will cover two discussions. First, in macro level, how the development of vocational education curriculumrelevant to labor market as well as relevant to the national philosophy, and eight (8) National Education Standards.Second, in micro level,how the curriculum is to be implemented in school, especially in classroom and out ofclassroom settings. Furthermore, the roles and commitment of National and Local governments,in decentralization era, together with their stakeholders to support vocational education will also be analyzed. Summary as a conclusion will be provided at the end of this paper combined with recommendations especially for Government and people in business and industry. Keywords: curriculum development, vocational education, decentralization, national economy growth