Contract Teachers Tired of Being Left Hanging

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

The honorary teachers throughout West Java held a demonstration in front of Gedung Sate, Bandung, West Java some time ago.

The appointment of one million teachers under the ASN PPPK (a program to prioritize the selection of State Civil Apparatus Government Employees with a Work Agreement) in 2022 is problematic. As a result, the fate of many contract teachers is left hanging.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Completion of contract teachers to become state civil servant teachers with the ASN PPPK status through the policy of employing one million teachers is just a sweet promise. This scheme is still adrift and unclear, making teachers feel tired of being left hanging.

The government's promise to employ about one million teachers with ASN PPPK status faces many problems. A total of 42,070 teachers out of the 293,860 who have graduated and received placement in 2021 are still having problems in the region. There are reports that these teachers have worked but have not been paid.

From the 2022 employment quota of 781,844, positions proposed by regional governments is 40.9 percent or 319,618 teachers.

In addition, all 193,954 teachers who earned the passing grade in 2021 cannot be placed in 2022 due to limited positions in the region. In fact, public schools are lacking teachers. From the 2022 employment quota of 781,844, positions proposed by regional governments is 40.9 percent or 319,618 teachers.

“The drama revolving around the employment of one million teachers turns out to be untrue. The Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Mendikbudristek) minister has a program, but the rules and mechanisms are not ready. Contract teachers are tired of promises of completion, there is too much ghosting," said chair of the Presidium of Indonesian Contract Education Personnel, Defi Meliyana, at the Smart Chat webinar on Educational Policy (Ngopi Seksi) titled “Ballad of Indonesian Teachers: The Gap between Evidence and Promises,” on Sunday (6/11/2022).

In order for teachers to earn the passing grade, said Defi, it is also not as sweet as promised by the government. There is a first, then a second, or third priority. “Teachers who are listed as priority one, for example, can now register, but some regencies/cities/provinces do not provide placements. Teachers who have earned the passing grade can go down to priority two and so on. Where is the government's responsibility to the hundreds of thousands of teachers who graduated in 2021?" said Defi.

Defi then questioned the government's good intentions to raise the status and welfare of teachers. The reason for the lack of synchrony between the central government and local governments, especially regarding the budget, further proves that there is no real commitment to side with teachers.

FGHLPGSI

Thousands of honorary teachers demonstrated to ask the government to prioritize their appointment as teachers for the state civil apparatus without having to take the test again.

“We are confused about regional and central governments passing responsibilities to each other. This problem must have a solution. The education budget of at least 20 percent must be prioritized for students, teachers, schools and the fulfillment of infrastructure," said Defi.

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General chairperson of the Indonesian Contract Teacher Passing Grade Forum, Heti Kustrianingsih, said that teachers had been waiting for one year. “I don’t know how to explain this to the teachers. How can a teacher who has earned the passing grade have their priority be dropped in order to get placement? Many teachers are confused, if they go down in priority, what will their fate be and what will happen? The placement of teachers who have earned the passing grade should have been mapped out because they are needed in public schools, but the teachers still have to think about it,” said Heti.

Problematic

Coordinator of the Association of National Education and Teachers Satriwan Salim said, based on data from the Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry, there will be a shortage of around 1.3 million teachers up until 2024. Thus, the appointment of contract or new teachers is a must.

“Unfortunately, the management of the recruitment of PPKK teachers is chaotic, unprofessional. The appointment of the first PPPK teachers in 2019, totaling 34,954 teachers, took two years to get their appointment certificates and be placed in schools. So, even from a historical perspective, PPPK teachers have had problems from the start,” said Satriwan.

He said teachers who earned the passing grade should be able to be placed in schools. Moreover, contract teachers or THK-2 who were appointed prior to 2005 have waited for a dozen years. However, until now, even after they have passed the test, they remain adrift.

“Teachers who have earned the passing grade don't need any more schemes, let alone have their status downgraded. The problem of teachers, including PPPK teachers, is a national concern. In this year’s Teachers Month, welcoming National Teachers’ Day, the central and regional governments are obligated to commit. Don't be cruel to teachers, some have become PPKK teachers but have not been paid," said Satriwan.

The chaotic recruitment of one million teachers is only one of the problems, not to mention teacher competence, protection and redistribution.

He emphasized that, from the start, the matter of teacher placement is unclear because there is no grand design or roadmap for Indonesian teachers. The chaotic recruitment of one million teachers is only one of the problems, not to mention teacher competence, protection and redistribution.

“We hope that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo will step-in to solve the problem of teacher management, especially the chaotic recruitment of PPPK teachers and the teachers’ professional allowance. We urge a presidential regulation or the like that stipulates the minimum salary or wage for non-ASN teachers," said Satriwan.

In a Hearing Meeting of Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR), acting director-general of the Teachers and Education Personnel at the Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry, Nunuk Suryani, said that her party continues to coordinate with local governments. The placements that have finally been proposed by regional governments is 40.9 percent of the requirements for 2022. The recruitment process will continue in 2023.

ZULKARNAINI

Agustina, an honorary teacher at SD N 70 Banda Aceh, is teaching her students. Agustina has been an honorary teacher since 2010 and earns Rp 400,000 per month.

For the 2022 selection, teachers who have earned the passing grade are prioritized. Unfortunately, not all of them can get placement in 2022 because there are local governments that do not propose placements. There are even local governments that cancel their proposed placements of teachers.

“We continue to optimize the completion of teachers earning the passing grade, with priority of up to three without testing. If there is a new quota, it will be open to the public in 2023 with a test selection," said Nunuk. (ELN)

(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo)