PGRI Asks DPR To Urge The Government To Provide Concrete Solutions To The Fate Of Honorary Teachers

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Executive Board of the Teachers Association of the Republic of Indonesia (PB PGRI) asked the DPR RI, especially Commission X DPR, to urge the government to immediately seek concrete solutions to the issue of honorary teachers who have not received clarity on status and protection for a long time.

This was said by the Secretary-General of PB PGRI, Dudung Abdul Qodir, responding to the anxiety of the residents regarding legal certainty and increasing their status to become Government Employees with Work Agreements (PPPK).

This anxiety has also been conveyed by honorary teachers at the General Opinion Meeting (RDPU) with Commission X DPR some time ago.

Dudung also expressed his gratitude to the DPR RI, especially Commission X for taking the aspirations of honorary teachers to clarify their fate. According to him, the DPR's support for honorary teachers is very reasonable, because the progress and civilization of the nation is shown through the quality of good education.

"PB PGRI would like to thank the Indonesian House of Representatives for responding to complaints and tears of honorary teachers in Commission X and encouraging the government to immediately seek concrete solutions," Dudung told reporters, Saturday, July 19.

"The DPR's support is very reasonable, because talking about the progress and civilization of the nation, the state must focus and seriously organize education. Talking about the progress and quality of education, the state must focus on managing professionalism, welfare, and protection of teachers," he continued.

Dudung assessed that the problem of honorary teachers needed to be addressed immediately. According to him, the central and regional governments must take strategic steps to solve the problem of deficiencies to the welfare of teachers throughout Indonesia.

"There must be tactical and strategic steps from the central and regional governments to complete the governance of teacher shortages, teacher welfare and improve teacher quality," he said.

Therefore, Dudung said, PB PGRI has submitted a number of concrete proposals to the government. First, the transformation of teacher governance must be carried out thoroughly, starting from improving the Educational Energy Education Institute (LPTK), the recruitment process for teachers, coaching and career development, to guaranteeing welfare, rewards, and protection for teachers.

"The second is the transition of the status of PPPK ASN teachers and education to civil servants and PGRI encourages honorary teachers and education personnel to receive legal protection and certainty of status and welfare," said Dudung.

Dudung said that PGRI is of the view that improving the quality of national education cannot be separated from glorifying the teaching profession. Therefore, PB PGRI encourages the teaching profession to be used as a promising and prestigious career choice.

"PGRI asks to make a promising teacher profession and the number 1 profession in Indonesia. So that great students in this country will fight to enter universities that prepare prospective teachers, finally the nation's civilization that realizes the 2045 golden generation will soon be achieved," he explained.

"And we have high hopes for the DPR to be able to participate in urging the Government to provide concrete solutions to the fate of honorary teachers," concluded Dudung.

Previously, on the agenda of the Public Hearing Meeting (RDPU), Monday, July 14, teacher R cried when he told his fate in front of a member of Commission X DPR. During the meeting, R told that during his 7 years as an honorary teacher, he did not get a decent salary.

"If you want to know our fate, ma'am, we are the pure honorarium whose salary is calculated to be Rp. 30,000 per hour. That's not even an hour a day, but one month ma'am. For example, 18 hours of mothers multiplied by Rp. 30,000, Rp. 540,000, only ma'am," said R.

Guru R said his status in the R4 category was the last priority in the recruitment of PPPK ASN. On this issue, he considered his career neglected and asked for the help of Commission X DPR RI so that honorary teachers in the same category would still be considered.

"There is a law that honorary must be completed by 2025. If we R4 are wasted, how have we served so far?", he said.

Responding to the cries of teacher R, Deputy Chairman of Commission X DPR RI MY Esti Wijayati confirmed that his party would accommodate the complaint. MY Esti admitted that she understood the problem because she had been an honorary teacher.

"Njih, thank you, thank you. We have arrested him. I am also an honorary teacher first, so I know. Thank you for the struggle so far," said MY Esti.