October 20, 2025 | 04:42 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Educators Coalition (Koalisi Barisan Guru Indonesia or Kobar Guru Indonesia) has criticized the Prabowo Subianto–Gibran Rakabuming Raka administration for what it described as poor performance in the education sector during its first year in office.
The group said that many of the government’s education-related decisions have been “exclusive” and not in favor of teachers.
Inconsistencies in Teacher Policy Implementation
Kobar Guru Indonesia Chair Soeparman Mardjoeki Nahali said the Education Ministry has been inconsistent in implementing several mandates under the Teacher and Lecturer Law.
One key example, he noted, is the long-delayed inpassing or equivalency program for private school teachers, which has yet to be opened.
“This is a violation of the law. Commission X of the House of Representatives has also reminded the ministry not to ignore the equal rights of private teachers,” Soeparman said in a written statement on Monday, October 20, 2025.
Centralization vs. Decentralization
The coalition’s statement marks its evaluation of one year of the Prabowo–Gibran administration, from October 2024 to October 2025.
Another major point of criticism is the government’s decision to centralize teacher management, a move Soeparman said contradicts the principle of decentralization enshrined in the 2003 National Education System Law.
“Decentralization is the spirit of education reform. Centralization risks expanding bureaucracy and undermining regional participation,” he said.
Allowance Delays and Risk of Nepotism
Kobar Guru Indonesia also criticized delays in the disbursement of the third-quarter 2025 teacher professional allowance. The payments, originally scheduled for September, had yet to be distributed as of October.
The group further raised concerns over Education Ministry Regulation No. 7 of 2025 on the appointment of school principals, warning that the policy could invite corruption, collusion, and nepotism since nominations are limited to recommendations from regional education offices and incumbent principals.
Lack of Commitment to Constitutional Mandates
Kobar Guru Indonesia also questioned the government’s lack of follow-up on the Constitutional Court’s 2024 ruling mandating free education up to the junior high school level in both public and private institutions.
Soeparman accused the Education and Culture Ministry and the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Science of failing to advocate for the constitutional requirement that 20 percent of the state budget be allocated for education.
“Instead of ensuring the 20 percent budget allocation, the Education Ministry has implemented a gradual funding scheme that benefits only a few schools,” he said.
Budget Allocation Concerns
In the 2025 state budget, total education spending amounts to Rp690 trillion. Of that, the Education Ministry receives Rp33.55 trillion, while the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Science gets Rp57.68 trillion. The remaining Rp104.47 trillion is allocated to other ministries and institutions.
The education budget is expected to rise to Rp757.8 trillion in 2026. However, nearly half of that amount, or about Rp335 trillion, will go toward the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, with Rp223 trillion sourced from the education budget.
Despite its criticism, Kobar Guru Indonesia also acknowledged several government initiatives that deserve appreciation, including a Rp500,000 monthly professional allowance for private teachers, an expanded teacher certification (PPG) quota for 401,000 participants, and subsidies for hundreds of thousands of non-civil servant and non-formal early childhood teachers who are not yet certified.
“These steps are commendable as they demonstrate attention to teacher welfare and competence development,” Soeparman said.
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