The Ministry Of Religion Of Cilegon City Continues To Control The Rights Of Madrasah Teachers Amid Regional Financial Challenges

JAKARTA - The Head of the Office of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) of Cilegon City, H. Amin Hidayat, expressed his deep appreciation for the dedication and patience of madrasa teachers in facing delays in paying honorariums caused by the financial condition of the Cilegon City Government which is experiencing a deficit. H. Amin understands how important honorariums are for madrasa teachers.

"We have just coordinated with the Head of the Kesra and Pak Sekda. The results of the chat remain that officials and mayors are still thinking about how to find a solution to grant the right of Koran teachers and especially honorary staff," said H. Amin, in a written statement, Tuesday, January 14.

As is known, the Cilegon City Government provides grants to the Ministry of Religion allocated for honorariums for madrasah teachers (Ibtidaiyah, Tsanawiyah, Aliyah) and honorary teachers, so that their honorarium increases from IDR 450 thousand per month to IDR 675 thousand per month.

Since 2021, there have been no obstacles in the flow of funds, and only the end of 2024 has stalled, because the Cilegon City Government's finances have decreased.

H. Amin has submitted an honorarium payment until the end of the 2024 fiscal year, and the Ministry of Religion understands this issue very well. Moreover, based on the Circular Letter of the Minister of Home Affairs number 900.1.15.1/6658/SJ, local governments are allowed not to pay grants in the event of a budget deficit. This situation is a challenge for all parties involved.

As a form of responsibility, the Ministry of Religion of Cilegon City has held discussions with the chairmen of the teacher forum to provide an understanding of this condition.

"We really appreciate the understanding of teachers who remain solid with the Ministry of Religion. We also continue to encourage communication with the City Government through hearings to find solutions," added H. Amin.

He also appealed to teachers not to hold demonstrations and prefer dialogue paths. "We fully support dialogical steps as an effort to find the best solution," he said.

"In principle, they understand, what else to do. I think their madrasas teachers are already solid in one line with the Ministry of Religion to understand the budget deficit in local governments," he said.

Looking ahead, H. Amin stated that coordination with the Cilegon City Government will continue to be carried out, including technical preparations for payment of honorariums in 2025. We are regulating a better mechanism, such as reporting every month, so that the payment process can run more smoothly," he explained.

This is a reflection momentum for all parties. "We are optimistic that this challenge can be the first step for future evaluation and improvement. We ask for prayers from the teachers so that the efforts we make will provide the best results for all parties," he concluded.

With the spirit of togetherness and synergy, the Ministry of Religion of Cilegon is committed to continuing to oversee the rights of teachers and ensure the best service for the world of madrasah education.