Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati commented on the issue of teachers and lecturers' salaries, which has recently gained traction on social media. She acknowledged that low salaries present a challenge for state finances.
"On social media, I always say that being a teacher or lecturer is not appreciated because the salary is not high. This is also one of the challenges for state finance," she said during the Indonesian Convention on Science, Technology, and Industry on Thursday, August 7, 2025, according to a recording from the Bandung Institute of Technology's YouTube channel.
The state treasurer noted that this situation raises questions. "Should everything come from state finance, or is there participation from the community?" she asked.
However, she did not elaborate on what community participation would entail. Her comments were made during a discussion about the Rp724.3 trillion education budget allocated for 2025.
The government divides the education budget into three main clusters. The salaries of teachers and lecturers fall under the second cluster. The first cluster is dedicated to direct student benefits from elementary school through university, while the third cluster funds infrastructure development.
Sri explained that the budget for teachers and lecturers covers various expenses, including salaries and performance allowances. Her presentation detailed that professional allowances are provided to 477,700 non-civil servant teachers, and certification benefits are allocated to 666,900 teachers.
The education budget also funds several key programs, such as the Smart Indonesia Card (KIP) for 1.1 million students, the Smart Indonesia Program (PIP) for 20.4 million students, School Operational Assistance (BOS) for 9.1 million students, and Operational Assistance for State Universities (BOPTN) for nearly 200 state campuses.
Additionally, the budget supports scholarships from the Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) and initiatives for learning digitalization.