Government Explores Option to Make Contract Teachers Central Civil Servants

Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian has announced that the government is reviewing the option of transferring teachers with contract-based civil servant status (PPPK) to become central government civil servants (ASN). Tito stated that this option is one of the scenarios being calculated to resolve issues related to the management and financing of teaching staff in the regions.

“Regarding the PPPK issue, it is still being discussed. Under Law 23/2014 on Regional Government, there is actually a division of authority; for instance, PAUD, kindergarten, elementary, and junior high school teachers are under the authority of district/city governments, while senior high school and vocational school teachers are under provincial governments,” Tito said after a meeting with House of Representatives leaders at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday (10/8/2026).

Tito explained that the law provides room for the central government to handle teaching staff and teachers. He said the government is examining the option of pulling PPPK teachers into central ASN status. “Specifically for teaching staff and teachers, they can be handled by the central government. This means they could be drawn into becoming central government ASN, and later transferred to places where there is a shortage of teachers so they don’t pile up in one location. This is currently being exercised,” he said.

The former National Police chief said further discussions regarding the status of PPPK teachers are scheduled for next week. He hopes a decision on the fate of these teachers can be made soon. “Hopefully. We have all been asked to conduct an exercise: if the PPPK teachers are drawn in, what is the number; if part-time teachers become full-time, how many and what are the figures. If they become regional ASN, how much additional funding must be given to the regions; if they become central ASN, what are the central government’s cost requirements for both public and religious schools,” Tito stated.

Additionally, Tito said the status of non-ASN teachers is still under discussion. He noted that several options are also being examined. “It is still being discussed whether to exercise all options, whether they will be drawn into becoming regional ASN, but what about the regions’ capacity? If the region’s capacity is not strong, then inevitably they must be given a non-physical Specific Allocation Fund (DAK) or additional General Allocation Fund (DAU),” he said.

“If they are drawn in to become central ASN, meaning ASN of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, then automatically the ministry must be given an additional budget. Perhaps the performance allowances could be shared between the central and regional governments,” he added.