Tests Patiently Waiting for Educator Certificate

There are still many unresolved teacher problems, including around 1.6 million teachers who are not yet certified educators.

KOMPAS/YOLA SASTRA

Students hold cardboard signs with criticisms during a rally commemorating National Teacher's Day on Sudirman Street in front of the West Sumatra Governor's Office in Padang, West Sumatra, on Thursday (25/11/2021). The students demanded that the central and local governments pay attention to the fate of teachers, especially non-permanent teachers, who are far from being prosperous.

An educator certificate means a lot to teachers and prospective teachers. This certificate is a sign of professionalism as well as paving the way for improving welfare and status in the future.

Currently, around 1.6 million teachers who already teach in public and private schools (in office) are waiting for the good fortune to receive a call to take part in teacher professional education (PPG) in office. Of this number, most teachers have been teaching for a long time and are even close to retirement. Because of this, jealousy arose when the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) routinely announced the opening of pre-service PPGs.

The pre-service PPG program provides one year college scholarships for new graduates aka fresh graduates education and non-education graduates to become professional teachers.

A teacher, Tri, was seen commenting on the announcement of the 2024 Pre-Service PPG which was announced on the website of the Directorate General of Teachers and Education Personnel at the Ministry of Education and Culture. "PPG in position should be a priority because it is to obtain an educator certificate. Hopefully the policy will be on our side who have been on the waiting list and pretest for years. "Hopefully there will be special regulations for those of us who have been teaching for dozens or even decades without PPG in office," he said, Sunday (7/4/2024).

Other teachers also expressed the same hope. "There is no definite news about PPG in office, PPG in pre-service continues," he said.

For teachers, obtaining a certification in education often relies on luck. Tati, a teacher at a private elementary school in Jakarta, stated that she has had her unique educator and educational personnel identification number (NUPTK) since 2016. However, even until 2024, the clarity of receiving the call to participate in PPG for her position is still being eagerly awaited with extra patience.

"Teachers must diligently check SIMPKB (Continuous Professional Development Management Information System) regarding their status. I am in category A who is over 40 years old. Hopefully this year it can be called. "However, I see there is a problem with the cut off status for 2022. I'm confused about whether this year can be called or postponed again," said Tati.

According to Law Number 14 of 2005 concerning Teachers and Lecturers, teachers are required to have a teaching certificate. Teacher education programs require a minimum of S-1/D-4 in education or non-education programs before they can participate in PPG. When teachers have graduated from PPG and receive a teaching certificate, their hard work is appreciated by the state. With a teaching certificate, teachers are entitled to receive professional teacher allowances (TPG) equal to one basic salary per month.

When the recruitment of government contract teacher employees (PPPK) is opened, certified teachers have privileges. They have a significant bonus score, so they get the "red carpet" to pass the recruitment.

Also read: Teachers Struggle to Get Educator Certification until Retirement

Tati stated that teachers hope to obtain educator certification to clarify their status and for additional welfare. Many teachers have made sacrifices by financing their own education to advance from a diploma level to a bachelor's degree or by taking additional courses for a linear major.

According to Tati, before becoming a teacher, she graduated with a degree in economics. She had a career in several private companies until she had the opportunity to become a teacher. The existence of the Teacher and Lecturer Law, which requires teachers to take a linear study program, made Tati return to study in the Bachelor of Education for SD Teachers program at Universitas Terbuka.

"The salaries for teachers are not high. However, due to government demands, many teachers are struggling to continue their education despite the limited income. I have even opened tutoring sessions to pay for my own studies. Nevertheless, the call for PPG in the position has yet to come," complained Tati.

Promise to complete

Separately, the Director General of Teachers and Education Personnel at the Ministry of Education and Culture, Research and Technology, Nunuk Suryani, said that the government is committed to completing teachers who do not yet have teaching certificates through PPG in their positions. The pre-service PPG for fresh graduates is more focused on replacing retired teachers, numbering 60,000-70,000 people per year. Meanwhile, the pre-service PPG quota provided last year was around 26,000 per year, then in 2024 the quota will be 38,112 people.

"The civil servant candidate selection program is aimed at encouraging young people to become teachers. We have difficulty finding young people who are willing to become teachers and be placed in remote, underdeveloped, and wide areas," said Nunuk.

Many teachers have made sacrifices by financing their own studies to improve their educational level, from diploma to bachelor's degree or by taking another bachelor's degree program for career advancement.

Nunuk stated that the completion of uncertified teachers' certification is also a serious concern. Based on last year's data, there are approximately 1.6 million teachers who are uncertified. Of that number, around 200,000 teachers do not have a bachelor's or master's degree, and around 200,000 teachers come from the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

"So, there are around 1.2 million that have not been completed yet. The target is by no later than 2025, PPG in office can be completed. The goal is so that the procurement of new teachers can be more focused through pre-service PPG," he explained.

Also read: ”Quo Vadis” Teacher Certification

KOMPAS/ESTER LINCE NAPITUPULU

The Chairman of PB PGRI, Unifah Rosyidi (third from the right), discussed the fate of teachers who have not yet received a teaching certificate with the Director of Professional Teacher Education (PPG) at the Ministry of Education and Culture and Research and Technology, Temu Ismail, who attended via Zoom on Tuesday (2/8/2023). Millions of teachers are still waiting for the opportunity to participate in PPG positions funded by the central government.

Therefore, a new breakthrough is being offered by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Research and Technology starting in 2024 to accelerate the completion of the PPG in the position. Teachers will receive recognition of past learning (RPL) and self-learning through the Merdeka Mengajar (PMM) platform. Then, teachers will take a competency test for PPG students, and if they fail, there will be a chance to retake the test.

"With this system, every qualified teacher who studies the module and scores passing grades can participate in the competency test. This way, one year can reach 500,000-600,000 teachers who can be served. The hope is that the In-Service Teacher Training Program can be completed by 2025," said Nunuk.

According to Nunuk, teaching certification is highly anticipated by teachers, especially to obtain better welfare. "If all teachers have obtained teaching certification, the only thing left is the pre-service teacher training," she said.