Yayasan SHEEP Indonesia (YSI) and SMK Negeri 1 Mentawai Islands held a discussion on the development of the Taro Field School as part of efforts to strengthen vocational education that reflects the local potential of the Mentawai Islands. The meeting marked an initial step toward building collaboration between formal education and YSI's local food system initiatives.

During the discussion, Mr. Puja, Vice Principal for Curriculum at SMK Negeri 1 Mentawai Islands, expressed the school's commitment to integrating the Taro Field School curriculum into teaching and practical learning activities within the Agribusiness of Agricultural Product Processing Department. This integration is expected to enhance students' competencies through contextual learning that reflects local resources and community needs.

The discussion identified taro as one of the key commodities to be incorporated into the curriculum. Taro is an important local food crop in Mentawai, valued for its cultural significance, contribution to food security, and economic potential. Through the Taro Field School, YSI promotes a learning platform that connects indigenous knowledge, cultivation techniques, agricultural processing, and youth capacity development in managing local resources.

As a follow up to the meeting, YSI and SMK Negeri 1 Mentawai Islands agreed on several collaborative actions, including:

• Preparing a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Yayasan SHEEP Indonesia and SMK Negeri 1 Mentawai Islands.
• Developing the Taro Field School curriculum for integration into the 2026 to 2027 academic year within the Agribusiness of Agricultural Product Processing Department.
• Designing learning mechanisms that integrate classroom theory, field practice, and student capacity building in managing local agricultural commodities.

Moving forward, the collaboration will also be strengthened through partnerships with Community Based Organizations (OMBs) supported by YSI in Sipora. The involvement of OMBs is expected to enrich the learning process by providing practical field experience, sharing good practices in local resource management, and serving as resource persons with direct experience in taro development.

According to Ikbal, YSI Area Manager in Sipora, strengthening vocational education based on local potential is a strategic investment in developing young people with the skills, knowledge, and commitment needed to preserve and develop local food systems within their own communities.

The collaboration between YSI, SMK Negeri 1 Mentawai Islands, and local OMBs represents an initial model for linking formal education with community based practice while supporting the preservation of local food systems and strengthening community self reliance across the Mentawai Islands.