RRI.CO.ID, Surabaya - A major highlight of the 2026 National Education Day celebration in Surabaya was the display of electric vehicles developed by 130 vocational senior high schools (SMK) across East Java.

These student-built vehicles, created through fuel-to-electric conversion projects, were presented at Grahadi State Building as proof of the growing role of vocational education in advancing green technology.

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa praised the achievement, calling it a testament to the students’ skills and creativity.

“Extraordinary. East Java’s SMK students have proven they possess competence, creativity, and technological capability that make us proud,” she said on Friday, May 8, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Khofifah stressed that the vehicles are more than just school projects, noting their readiness to compete in the automotive industry. She emphasized that electric vehicle development is a strategic step toward accelerating the use of environmentally friendly energy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

“This is a driver of our spirit toward Net Zero Emission 2060. The transition from fossil to non-fossil energy begins with SMK students, and that is truly impressive,” she remarked.

The governor explained that showcasing the vehicles during the National Education Day was intended to highlight the capability and creativity of East Java’s vocational students while encouraging collaboration with industry.

She added that the local content level (TKDN) of the vehicles has already reached around 50 percent, with only a few components still imported.

East Java Education Agency Head Aries Agung Paewai said the exhibition also demonstrated how vocational learning is aligned with industry needs.

“This is tangible proof that our students’ skills and competencies are not inferior to industrial products. What they have built is no longer just practice equipment, but something market-ready,” he explained.

Aries noted that out of 481 automotive-focused SMKs in East Java, 130 schools have developed electric vehicles, either as new builds or through fuel-to-electric conversions.

Some schools have even received requests from companies to convert fuel-powered vehicles into electric ones, opening new opportunities for vocational education. ***