Demanding The Equation Of The Rights Of Madrasah Teachers Who Are Often Considered Tiri Children

JAKARTA In the midst of the tightness of the commemoration of National Teacher's Day which is celebrated every November 25, there are sad facts about madrasas teachers who are considered stepchildren. The new policy regarding the increase in certification-based salaries seems to be decreasing the services of madrasas teachers.

Almost all schools, both public and private, both public and religious-based schools, commemorate National Teacher's Day earlier this week. Commemoration of National Teacher's Day is not only a form of celebrating the role of teachers, but also as a form of respect for students to teachers and knowledge that has been given and commemorating the important role of teachers in teaching science.

However, the celebration of Teacher's Day may not really be celebrated by all educators. Although both teachers have the same rights and obligations, in reality, the granting of madrasah teachers is not the same compared to other teachers.

The latest policy from the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education regarding the additional salary of IDR 2 million per month for teachers who have met the requirements is widening the gap between general teachers and madrasas teachers.

It is not without reason that the commemoration of National Teacher's Day is held every November 25, because in the household, greetings coincide with the establishment of the Indonesian Teachers' Association (PGRI) in 1994. The purpose of the establishment of PGRI is to appreciate and remember the struggles of teachers, who have devoted themselves to national independence and education.

But from year to year, teacher management is a problem, including the salaries of teachers who are deemed not in accordance with the workload they carry, especially teachers who do not have ASN status or honorary status.

In the momentum of National Teacher's Day 2024, it is important to highlight in particular the condition of madrasah teachers. Why? Because madrasas teachers, according to the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI), seem as if they were suburban groups in the teacher policy regulations.

"You could say, his whereabouts did not get the government's attention much. They are treated like stepchildren in the teacher's governance system in Indonesia," said Ubaid Matraji, JPPI National Coordinator.

Regarding welfare, madrasas teachers can be said to occupy the lowest caste, compared to teachers in other schools. This is a strange situation and has been going on for a long time.

Even though they are both teachers, have the same rights and obligations, but the giving of their rights is different. Teacher welfare recommendations are also stated in the Teacher Law and Lecturer No. 14 of 2005.

"Moreover, if their status is an honorary teacher in madrasa, the burden of suffering will be doubled," explained Ubaid.

That's just a matter of welfare, not quality that is also concerning. JPPI noted that only 39.2 percent of the number of madrasah teachers had been certified. In fact, based on the mandate of the Teacher Law and Lecturer Article 82 Paragraph 2), it was emphasized that 10 years since the enactment of this law, all teachers must have been certified.

After 19 years ago, the fact was that 60.8 percent or 484,737 madrasa teachers had not yet obtained an educator certificate.

Even though teacher certification is one of the important requirements to take part in Teacher Professional Education (PPG). If there is no change in government policy regarding this, the list of PPG queues for madrasah teachers is increasingly contagious, predicted to reach 53 years. The length of the PPG queue is because the government only provides quota rations for madrasah teachers an average of 9000 per year.

"From this data, we can know that the queue of madrasa teachers to participate in PPG is longer than the hajj queue," said Ubaid.

Shortly after the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Abdil Mu'ti was inaugurated, a number of teacher organizations collected President Prabowo Subianto's promise which would increase the teacher's salary of Rp. 2 million per month. This is a political promise that was made during the campaign ahead of the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres).

When confirmed, Mendikdasmen Abdul Mu'ti gave an unpleasant clarification for some teachers. He mentioned several conditions to be able to get an additional salary of Rp. 2 million per month, including only certified teachers who can get these rights.

This means that these gifts' will only be given to certified teachers. That's why, said Ubaid, this policy will only be enjoyed by a handful of madrasas teachers.

In fact, of the 484,737 blood teachers who were covered in blood, there were 455,767 (94.1 percent) madrasah teachers who were non-ASN status. The record is the most affected by this justice system of teacher governance.

Seeing this problem, JPPI issued several recommendations so that teacher management in Indonesia is more just for all teachers and is not discriminatory to madrasah teachers.

The government is asked to create a system in teacher management in Indonesia. Thus, madrasah and non-madrasah teachers do not appear different impressions.

The difference is only in placement. There are teachers who are placed in ordinary schools, some in madrasas. The difference in the place of duty is only about the place of work, but the matter of rights and obligations must be equal and fair for all teachers," Ubaid explained.

In addition, the Ministry of Education and Culture must also be the leading sector to formulate a policy of one teacher governance system and as well as formulate a roadmap together in the context of efforts to improve the quality and welfare of teachers, both in schools and madrasas.

Finally, JPPI hopes that teacher professional organizations must be an important pillar in improving competence for its members, both in the form of empowerment, training and coaching of pedagogical development and substance.