Budget Constraints Delay Teacher Allowance Payments
Several Madrasah teachers have complained about the delayed payment of their professional allowances. One of the teachers, Iman Zanatul Haeri, expressed this concern after the Ministry of Religious Affairs issued a letter regarding the disbursement of professional allowances for Madrasah teachers in 2026.
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Iman said that teachers who have completed their professional teacher education (PPG) in 2025 are at risk of not receiving the professional allowance. This is because the third point in the letter issued by the Directorate General of Islamic Education of the Ministry of Religious Affairs states that the allowance will still be withheld because the budget allocation has not yet been approved.
“Even though it’s Ramadan, Eid is just around the corner. Madrasah teachers, whose salaries are not that high, are hoping for the professional allowance,” said Iman when confirmed on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
Iman showed Tempo a copy of the letter. The letter is addressed to all heads of regional offices of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, heads of the Madrasah Education/Islamic Education/Islamic Religious Education divisions. The letter, which was issued on February 25, 2026, was signed on behalf of the Director General, Director of Madrasah GTK, Fasal Musaad.
The content of the letter states that the professional allowance for the January and February 2026 period cannot be paid. The professional allowance cannot be disbursed specifically for teachers and heads of Madrasah who are graduates of the 2025 PPG program.
“Based on the circular letter from the Secretary General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs No. 85/SJ/KU.00.2/01/2026 dated January 27 regarding the payment of professional allowances for teachers/lecturers who are declared to have passed the certification in 2025, the payment of professional allowances for teachers and heads of Madrasah who are graduates of the 2025 PPG program (even though they have received the NRG) will be temporarily suspended until the budget allocation is available,” reads the third point of the letter.
In addition to the clarity of the professional teacher allowance, another point conveyed is to request that regional offices and heads of the Madrasah education division carry out data reconciliation processes, including the arrangement of teacher activity status.
There is also a reconciliation of data for teachers who have been transferred, proposals for the issuance of teacher registration numbers (NRG) for PPG graduates who have certificates but have not yet received the NRG. In addition, the letter also requests that the teaching schedule and workload of teachers be inputted immediately.
“All heads of divisions and related parties are expected to take quick and tactical steps to ensure that the disbursement of the professional allowance can be carried out no later than March 16, 2026,” reads the second point in the letter.
After learning about the contents of the letter, Iman, representing other Madrasah teachers, felt disappointed. After all the procedures were carried out and all teachers were asked to re-enter their data, it turned out that the professional allowance may not be disbursed.