Jakarta – If anyone wonders why eradicating corruption in Indonesia remains a formidable challenge, the answer may lie in a culture nurtured from an early age within the education system where adults, who ought to serve as moral exemplars, instead become the very architects of deception.
The latest survey by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on the education integrity assessment has unveiled concerning findings, including widespread plagiarism among university lecturers in relation to journal publications and fraudulent practices by teachers to meet certification bonus requirements.
Additionally, the survey reveals a troubling pattern of bribery, with teachers and lecturers accepting money in exchange for grade manipulation and preferential treatment of students.
These actions may appear to be entirely indefensible and morally wrong at first glance. However, a closer examination reveals a deeper and more complex issue: The neglect of teachers' welfare by the state.
This systemic issue eventually creates an environment in which unethical practices become not just an option, but, in some cases, a survival mechanism.
As the cornerstone of education and the key drivers in shaping the nation's future generations, as President Prabowo Subianto has emphasized on multiple occasions, teachers deserve far greater recognition and respect.
We need not look far for inspiration. Just across the border in Singapore, now a global power in its own right, the teaching profession is among the most highly regarded, standing on equal footing with other esteemed professions such as doctors and lawyers.
Teachers in the island state are generally well-compensated, with the average salaries standing at US$4,000 or around Rp 50 million per month, in addition to various benefits and access to professional development opportunities.
What makes the profession even more attractive is that teachers are considered civil servants from the moment they begin their training, during which they will receive a monthly salary, paid annual leave, medical coverage and insurance.
With job placement typically guaranteed after training, teaching has become a highly competitive and highly regarded profession in Singapore, the National Center for Education noted.
The situation in Indonesia stands in stark contrast, where it is common to hear stories of teachers working as contract staff for years, even decades. Although the majority of civil servant teachers have seen their basic salaries doubled under certification programs, some non-civil servant teachers reportedly get salaries as low as a few hundred thousand rupiah, often paid in lump sums after months of delay.
This has made the profession less appealing, hindering the attraction of qualified candidates.
While Singapore consistently ranks among the top-performing countries in reading, mathematics and science, according to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), Indonesia remains in the lower half of the global rankings.
Beyond academic performance, Indonesia also lags in broader measures of governance.
In the 2024 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (TI-CPI), Singapore was ranked as the 3rd least corrupt country globally with a score of 84, while Indonesia ranked 99th out of 180 countries, with a score of just 37.
On this National Education Day, it is only fitting for the government to pause and reflect on whether its policies have genuinely addressed the fundamental issue of educators' welfare for the sake of a brighter future for Indonesia's education.
President Prabowo has a grand vision for Golden Indonesia 2045 and has repeatedly stated that teachers are the key to the nation's rise. The President even shed tears during the National Teachers' Day celebration last November, admitting that he has not yet done enough to improve their well-being.
In fact, there is certainly room to act should the President genuinely commit to fixing the problem.
If the government can implement sweeping austerity measures, shouldn't addressing the long-standing issue of teacher welfare be an immediate priority?
Source: https://www.thejakartapost.com/opinion/2025/05/02/corruptive-culture.htm