“PPG has only been available to Islamic religious teachers. Now we are supporting Protestant, Catholic, Hindu, and Buddhist teachers,” Umar said, highlighting the program’s broader inclusivity.
He said the expansion aims to improve welfare for all religious teachers and reduce disparities in professional competency development across the country.
By 2025, access to the PPG program had increased by nearly 700 percent compared with previous years, Umar added.
Currently, more than 102,000 madrasah and religious school teachers participate in PPG, bringing the total to 206,411 teachers in 2025, up sharply from 29,933 participants in 2024.
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He also announced that 227,147 non-civil servant teachers will receive higher professional allowances, rising from Rp1.5 million (US$87) to Rp2 million (US$116) per month.
Umar said the government is also expanding career pathways for honorary teachers. In the past three years, 52,000 honorary teachers have been appointed as Government Employees with Employment Agreements (PPPK), ensuring status and improved welfare.
Addressing low salaries among madrasah teachers, he said multiple measures have been implemented to improve welfare and professional standards.
“We have begun establishing Sekolah Rakyat (People’s School), Garuda Schools, and welfare programs. We will also revise the law on teachers and lecturers,” Umar said.
He expressed hope that the revised law would remove disparities between different types of educational institutions.
“There should be no distinction between lecturers at general universities and religious universities, nor between madrasah and elementary school teachers. All are children of the nation; there should be no discrimination,” Umar emphasized.
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Translator: Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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