We are looking for stimulants that can attract them along with supporting regulations so that the teaching profession is in demandJakarta (ANTARA) - The Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry has said it wants more young people to pursue a teaching career.
"We are looking for stimulants that can attract them along with supporting regulations so that the teaching profession is in demand," director of basic education teachers, Directorate General of Teachers and Education Personnel, Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry, Rachmadi Widdiharto, said at an online press conference on Wednesday.
It is expected that the teaching profession can invite similar interest like other professions given the right stimulus, such as a relatively faster rank promotion, Widdiharto said.
He said he expects more young people will become teachers, especially in the frontier, underdeveloped and outermost areas, which have limited access to education.
Young people who are interested in becoming teachers do not always have to be civil servants, but can participate in programs such as Indonesia Teaching, in which young people are sent to various places in Indonesia to teach in primary schools and live in people's homes for one year, he added.
"The Undergraduate Educating in Frontier, Outermost, and Disadvantaged Regions Program has been carried out and has been evaluated, as has Indonesia Teaching. That program seems to attract young people," he observed.
He emphasized that the teaching profession is not any less important compared to other professions that require commitment and dedication.
The government has previously announced that 173,329 honorary teachers had passed the first selection of 2021 Civil Servants with Job Contract (PPPK). The selection is proof of the government's strong commitment to improving the welfare of honorary teachers in public schools, Widdiharto said.
Education, Culture, Research and Technology Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim said in early October, the status of a State Civil Apparatus would provide protection to honorary teachers and raise the level of teaching as a noble and honorable profession.
With the status of State Civil Apparatus, honorary teachers would also have more opportunities to participate in competency improvement programs so that will have an impact on improving the quality of teaching, he noted.
According to the ministry, the central government had previously provided 1,02,616 formations for State Civil Apparatus with Job Contract (ASN PPPK) teachers. The regional government then proposed about 506,252 formations of the quota, which then were accepted by the central government.
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Translator: Nanien Yuniar, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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