Teacher Competence Must Be Improved, Don't Let It Lose Far Compared To Students

Photo by Husniati Salma on Unsplash

JAKARTA - The moment of National Teacher's Day (HGN) on November 25 must be interpreted by taking into account the welfare of the hero without a merit. Teachers are very influential in building the character of the nation.

During the commemoration of National Teacher's Day in 2023 which took the theme Move Together to Celebrate Freedom of Learning', the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, highlighted the issue of the independent curriculum which is a curriculum for learning education in schools today.

According to Puan, the independent curriculum is not only about the release from the shackles of the conventional curriculum, but also so that there is more room for teachers to guide their students according to children's interests and talents.

"It's also about empowering students to explore their interests, developing talent, and determining their own path. They are agents of change in education," said Puan.

Puan reminded the importance of improving the quality and quality of human resources (HR) for educators to support Indonesia Gold 2045 targets.

"As an educator, teachers must be good individuals and have knowledge with a high intellectual spirit. So I hope that no more teachers should be intimidated in providing their knowledge," explained the first woman who served as Chair of the DPR RI.

The intimidation that Puan meant was included in the competence and qualifications of teachers. With good quality and competence, according to her, the role of teachers can be further maximized in an effort to produce a superior Indonesian generation.

"The competence of teachers must always be improved. Do not let the teachers be left behind from their students. Because as we all know, the times have made our children currently have very great literacy," said Puan.

Therefore, teachers must always improve their qualifications by adjusting the times. Of course, this needs to be supported by training programs and improving the quality of teacher human resources from the Government," he added.

Furthermore, Puan said that the intimidation experienced by teachers was also in terms of welfare. Especially for teachers who are currently honorary, and those who serve in remote parts of the country with limited facilities.

"The welfare of teachers must be further improved. Especially for teachers who have served for a long time but have not been appointed as ASN or Government Employees with Work Agreements (PPPK)," explained Puan.

There are still many teachers who teach in remote areas who do not get attention in terms of welfare. Even though they are willing to sacrifice their lives and work in limitations in order to devote themselves to educating the nation's sons/daughters. They are the heroes of education in today's era," he added.

Puan also ensured that the DPR would continue to oversee the Government's policy in order to ensure the fate of honorary teachers. Moreover, the new State Civil Apparatus Law (ASN) has mandated that the Government guarantees for honorary employees following the abolition of honorary staff status in the government next year.

"I hope that the derivative rules of the ASN Law can also accommodate the fate of honorary teachers, especially those who have served for decades but because their status is still honorary, their income is very small," said Puan.

Puan also highlighted the lack of absorption of honorary teacher formations to be appointed as teacher PPPK and educators by the central and regional governments.

"Fulfilling the needs of teachers in schools must be a priority for the central and regional governments. Do not let there be any more schools that lack educators, especially those in 3T (Disadvantaged, Frontier and Outermost) blood," hoped Puan.