Golkar Warns Indonesia's Education System is in 'Red Light' Crisis Over Budget Concerns

“In short, gentlemen, the education issue is in a red light condition, in my view,” Markus (Mekeng) said during his speech at a Golkar Faction discussion at the MPR in Bintaro, South Tangerang, on Monday (25 May 2026).

Mekeng called on the government to urgently address the issue to improve Indonesia’s education quality, warning that failure to act would lead to further decline.

“If we do not pay attention now, we will fall even further behind, as previously mentioned—our science levels are below average, and all other metrics are also below average,” he explained.

Mekeng argued that one of Indonesia’s education problems is funding. He stated that increasing the education budget would improve teacher welfare and overall education quality.

“This is the consequence; in my view, it’s all about the budget. If the budget were increased for the Ministry of Education—covering both basic and higher education—they could enact policies to improve the quality of lecturers, teachers, and students,” he added.

Additionally, Mekeng noted that contract teachers and lecturers are central to national education, yet most live in dire conditions.

“Currently, contract teachers remain the backbone of the education system across remote parts of the archipelago, filling classroom vacancies amid a shortage of civil service teachers,” he said.

Markus highlighted the irony of the situation for contract teachers in Indonesia, stating that their dedication does not match the recognition they receive.

“The issues facing contract teachers, lecturers, and other education personnel—including low wages below a living standard, uncertain legal status, and recruitment discrimination in civil service roles—have cast a shadow over the national education landscape. Additionally, stark disparities between state and private schools must be addressed,” he added.