The ministry's Director of Early Childhood Education and Non-Formal Education Teachers, Suparto, in a dialogue on Friday, said that the assistance has been adjusted to reflect the actual cost of tuition at various partner universities.
"The maximum assistance is Rp3 million per semester. Some universities set it lower, for example, Rp2.5 million (US$147). So, on average, it is sufficient to cover tuition fees," he remarked.
He noted that the assistance applies only for the designated study period of two semesters, with no extension if participants fail to finish on time.
According to Suparto, this assistance aims to reduce the burden of educational costs for teachers, especially those who are still contractual and not yet certified.
This program will run until 2027, targeting PAUD teachers who do not yet have a bachelor's degree or equivalent Diploma IV qualification, he continued.
The ministry is targeting 12,500 teachers to participate in the program for undergraduate degrees.
Of these, 6,700 kindergarten teachers and 5,755 elementary school teachers, all of whom have met the administrative requirements for the RPL program, will begin studying this year at several universities collaborating with the ministry.
Suparto also requested support from local governments to provide supporting facilities, such as study rooms and internet access, for teachers to participate in online lectures.
Support for this online lecture service is crucial, as teaching duties at their respective schools are not disrupted by their studies, given the region's geographical location and the challenges of accessing universities.
The ministry confirmed that several regional governments, such as Demak, Wonosobo, and Semarang have prepared special assistance for teachers in their areas to pursue undergraduate degrees.
This spirit of mutual cooperation aligns with President Prabowo Subianto's directive, which stated that the government should support education for teachers who do not yet have a bachelor's degree or a four-year diploma.
"This is cooperation between the central government, regional governments, and universities to ensure that PAUD teachers can improve the quality of educational services," Suparto highlighted.
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Translator: Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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