3,031 Teachers Officially Certified as Professional Teachers
3,031 teachers from various regions of Indonesia were officially certified as Professional Teachers through the In-Service Professional Teacher Education Programme (PPG) Batch IV 2025 organised by the Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training (FITK) at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta on Saturday (30 May).
The certification forms part of efforts to strengthen teacher quality, particularly for Islamic Religious Education (PAI) and madrasah teachers, in response to increasingly complex educational challenges in the global era.
The ceremony was held hybridly, with 490 participants attending in person and 2,541 joining online from across Indonesia. The majority of attendees were from regions outside Java, highlighting UIN Sunan Kalijaga’s extensive contribution to improving national education quality.
In his report, FITK Dean Sigit Purnama stated that out of 3,100 participants in the In-Service PPG Batch IV 2025, 3,031 successfully completed all professional education stages and are eligible for the educator certificate as Professional Teachers.
Sigit explained that the certification is part of the ongoing contribution by UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta’s Teacher Education Institution (LPTK) to enhance Indonesia’s education human resources quality.
GRADUATES
From 2021 to 2025, FITK UIN Sunan Kalijaga has graduated 14,675 professional teachers, including 1,017 Raudhatul Athfal (RA) teachers, 2,431 Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI) teachers, 8,354 Islamic Religious Education (PAI) teachers, 599 Akidah Akhlak teachers, 554 Quran and Hadith teachers, 534 Islamic Cultural History teachers, 587 Fiqh teachers, and 601 Arabic language teachers.
‘The certified teachers will return to their respective educational institutions with the responsibility to deliver quality learning, build students’ character, and contribute to improving national education quality,’ Sigit said.
He also urged alumni to uphold their alma mater’s reputation, carry out professional duties responsibly, and continuously develop themselves. He added that the educator certificate is not the end of learning but the start of a professional service journey.
PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS
In line with this, PPG Study Programme Head Rohmatun Lukluk Isnaini encouraged graduates to become inspiring, adaptive, and transformative teachers. She stressed that professional teachers must not only master teaching materials but also serve as role models, develop students’ character, and innovate learning methods relevant to contemporary times.
‘Teachers must continuously develop pedagogical, professional, social, and personal competencies. Their presence in the classroom is not just to deliver content but also to foster a love for learning, build hope, and inspire students to achieve a better future,’ she said.
TEACHER COMPETENCIES
Meanwhile, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta Rector Noorhaidi, in his certification speech, emphasised that current educational challenges require teachers to have broader competencies beyond subject mastery.
According to Noorhaidi, future education requires teachers who can shape students into critical thinkers, effective communicators, and individuals with strong character.
The rector highlighted three key competencies for professional teachers: first, logical, creative, and critical thinking; second, the ability to communicate ideas, including through foreign language mastery to broaden perspectives and build global networks.
Third, appropriate and ethical behaviour, reflected in honesty, discipline, responsibility, and being a role model.
‘Education is not just about what someone knows, but how they think, communicate ideas, and act in life. This is where the role of teachers becomes vital,’ Noorhaidi stressed.
He added that teacher competency strengthening must be holistic, not just academic but also interdisciplinary thinking, communication, and character building. He noted that PAI and madrasah teachers play a strategic role in preparing a generation that excels intellectually while possessing integrity and social concern.
EMOTIONAL CEREMONY
The certification ceremony was emotional as all participants recited the Indonesian Teacher Pledge together, symbolising their commitment to professional practice, upholding the teacher’s code of ethics, and dedicating themselves to the nation’s educational advancement.
This spirit was reflected in the testimony of Ihwan Nur Roiz, a teacher from MAN 2 Kulon Progo Yogyakarta. He said the PPG programme gave him a new perspective on the meaning of teacher professionalism and the importance of continuous innovation in learning.
‘This educator certificate is not just a recognition of competence but a trust to provide the best education services to students. We return to our regions with the responsibility to deliver more meaningful and quality learning,’ he said.
Through the certification of 3,031 Professional Teachers, UIN Sunan Kalijaga reaffirmed its commitment to supporting national education quality improvement by strengthening PAI and madrasah teacher competencies. The certified teachers are expected to be change agents capable of delivering inspirational learning and building the character of the next generation.