Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesia's government plans to increase allowances for honorary teachers and expand scholarship opportunities, reflecting efforts to improve teacher welfare and professional development across the country.
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti announced that the monthly allowance for honorary teachers will rise from Rp300,000 to Rp400,000 starting in 2026.
In addition,150,000 teachers will be eligible for government-funded scholarships to continue their higher education.
Mu'ti shared the announcement in a speech marking National Teacher's Day on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, published on the official website of the Ministry of Education and Culture.
"This policy is intended to allow teachers to focus on their primary role as professional educators," Mu'ti said.
"Teachers will have one dedicated day each week for learning and professional development, while their administrative duties will be reduced."
The initiative mirrors global efforts in education systems to prioritize teacher quality and well-being, recognizing that better-supported educators improve learning outcomes for students.
The Ministry has also been implementing broader programs to strengthen teacher qualifications and skills.
During President Prabowo Subianto's first year in office, the government provided scholarships of Rp3 million per semester to 12,500 unqualified teachers pursuing S1 degrees through the recognition of prior learning program.
Training programs have also focused on professional development, school leadership, counseling, in-depth subject learning, and emerging skills such as coding and artificial intelligence, aligning with global trends in teacher capacity building.
Mu'ti emphasized that all allowances and incentives are transferred directly to teachers' accounts. Certified teachers receive a monthly certification allowance of Rp2 million, while civil servant teachers also receive a one-time basic salary. Honorary, non-civil servant teachers currently receive Rp300,000 per month, which will increase to Rp400,000 next year.
"The Rp400,000 incentive per month will be directly deposited into each teacher's account," Mu'ti said on October 22, 2025, at the Ministry of Education and Culture office in Jakarta.
The incentive targets honorary teachers recorded in the Basic Education Data who meet eligibility criteria, including uncertified teachers in formal schools such as kindergartens, elementary, junior and senior high schools, and vocational institutions.
As of October 22, 2025, 395,967 non-civil servant teachers had received professional allowances totaling Rp6.56 trillion.
By increasing allowances and expanding scholarships, Indonesia joins a growing number of countries worldwide that are investing in teacher welfare, professional development, and digital-era skills to enhance the quality of education.
– Dede Leni Mardianti contributed to the writing of this article.