Deputy Chair of Commission X Proposes Abolition of Teacher Status Categorisation
Deputy Chair of Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR), Lalu Hadrian Irfani, has highlighted the impact of the ongoing categorisation of teacher statuses in Indonesia. According to him, this categorisation has created inequalities and career uncertainties for educators.
In Indonesia, teachers are divided into two types of employment: civil servant (ASN) teachers and non-ASN teachers. ASN teachers include civil servant teachers, government employees with work agreements, and part-time PPPK teachers. Meanwhile, non-ASN teachers include honorary teachers, private non-permanent teachers, and foundation permanent teachers.
Lalu Hadrian stated that the government needs to abolish the categorisation of teacher statuses and castes. “There should no longer be any categorisation of teacher statuses that causes disparities. In the future, there must be a single national teacher status, namely PNS,” he said in a written statement on Monday, 11 May 2026.
According to him, unifying teacher statuses under one national scheme will create effective and integrated education governance. The central government, he said, could fully take over the recruitment process, distribution, career development, and welfare improvements for teachers through the implementation of this policy.
This politician from the National Awakening Party (PKB) stated that the still-clustered teacher governance is a main issue that must be resolved. He referred to Circular Letter of the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Number 7 of 2026 on the Assignment of Non-ASN Teachers.
That policy provides a legal basis for local governments to continue paying salaries to registered honorary teachers and assigning them until 31 December 2026. According to Lalu, the regulation is a short-term solution.
However, he said, the government must conduct a comprehensive evaluation of national teacher needs. “The government must accurately recalculate the number of teacher needs and availability throughout Indonesia, both ASN and non-ASN teachers,” he stated.
Therefore, he hopes that the step to abolish teacher status categorisation can be made a long-term solution. The aim, he said, is to improve the fate of teachers in Indonesia, which will ultimately have a positive impact on national education quality.
Lalu Hadrian stated that teachers are the main foundation of human resource development in Indonesia. “Therefore, the state must provide certainty of status, career, and equitable welfare for all teachers,” said this legislator who handles education matters.