Ministry of Education Reveals Reason for Honorary Teacher Accumulation: Low Civil Service Recruitment

Atip stated that between 2006 and 2008, there was a large-scale recruitment of civil service teachers. However, from 2008 to 2012, recruitment of civil service teachers plummeted sharply. Recruitment resumed in 2013-2014, followed by another sharp decline from 2014 to 2016. It stabilised between 2016 and 2018 before rising again and then falling once more. This pattern is the reason for the accumulation of non-civil service teachers,” Atip said during a Golkar faction discussion at the MPR RI in Bintaro, South Tangerang, on Monday, 25 May 2026.

Atip added that the Ministry of Education has prepared short-term measures to address the issue, proposing a restructuring of teacher management authority.

“First, the planning of education staff needs is conducted jointly by the central and local governments. The central government controls teacher formation and distribution through Ruang Talenta Guru. Local governments manage the formation and distribution of non-teaching education personnel and other staff,” he explained.

He also stated that the appointment of teachers, education supervisors, inspectors, and school supervisors is handled by the central government. Performance evaluations, career development, professional growth, awards, welfare, and protection of education personnel are managed by both central and local governments according to their respective authorities.

“These five points form our grand design, which has been incorporated into the draft amendment of the National Education System Act,” he said.

Nunuk Suryani, Director General of Teachers and Education Personnel at the Ministry of Education, added that the number of retiring civil service teachers and new recruitments are disproportionate, with recruitment rates below 50% of those retiring.

“Every year, 70,000 teachers retire, but recruitment remains below 50%, creating a gap filled by honorary teachers. Due to low recruitment numbers, schools hire their own teachers to fill vacancies, leading to the prevalence of honorary staff,” she explained.