Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, in collaboration with the National Crafts Council (Dekranas), empowered 8,730 young entrepreneurs through the 2026 Entrepreneurship Skills Education (PKW) program.The ministry's Director of Courses and Training, Yaya Sutarya, stated that the Work Skills Education (PKK) and Entrepreneurship Skills Education (PKW) are priority government programs aimed at preparing a workforce that is ready for employment and capable of entrepreneurship.”The PKK is prepared for out-of-school and school-dropout students under the age of 25 to equip them with work skills and competencies. Currently, there are 77 types of skills prepared through courses and training institutions,” Sutarya said in a written statement here on Friday.He explained that the PKK has shown positive results, with the employment absorption rate reaching around 85 percent.Graduates of the program, he said, are widely absorbed into domestic and international industries, such as the cruise ship, hospitality, spa, wellness, and transportation sectors, equipped with competency certificates and professional skills.Meanwhile, the ministry continues to strengthen the PKW program, which focuses on creating new entrepreneurs. This year, the ministry targets 8,730 young entrepreneurs through the program.According to Sutarya, PKW not only provides skills training but also business capital support and equipment, enabling participants to start businesses immediately after training.“Participants are not only given knowledge, but also business support such as carts, equipment, and materials according to their fields,” he said.He said the collaboration between the ministry and Dekranas, which has been ongoing since 2020, has helped foster new entrepreneurs across various regions nationwide.Until 2025, a total of 5,736 students had participated in the program. In 2026, 458 students have already received PKW assistance across 18 districts and cities.