The ministry's Director General of Teachers, Education Personnel, and Teacher Education, Nunuk Suryani, explained that the PKS is a breakthrough program designed to improve the management of school ecosystems through strengthened principal leadership.
“We are introducing various breakthrough programs to improve the school ecosystem, one of which is the School Leadership Program," she stated here on Monday.
According to Suryani, the program aims to address the urgent need for school principals across Indonesia, with the current shortfall reaching 50,971 positions.
She further explained that 13,163 schools currently have no principals, while 26,909 schools only have acting principals or teachers assigned as interim school heads.
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Meanwhile, some 10,899 principals are expected to retire this year.
West Java was identified as the province having the most critical need, with 7,490 schools still without a principal.
"These numbers are alarming if we want to achieve quality and inclusive education. This situation underlines the urgency of accelerating the preparation and appointment of school principals through PKS,” she emphasized.
She also ensured that the PKS' principal appointment process has been based on meritocracy, accountability, and collaboration.
Furthermore, the program is designed to prepare future principals to be agents of inclusive and adaptive educational transformation and as leaders in effective learning.
Earlier, on Wednesday (June 4), Suryani stated that the PKS is a new program introduced in 2025 to replace the Teacher Leaders Program (PGP).
“This is a new one. The School Leadership Program replaces and revokes two existing regulations related to the PGP and the assignment of teachers as school principals,” she remarked.
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Translator: Hana, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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