Non-ASN Teachers to Remain Until End of 2026, What Next?

The government has issued Circular Letter (SE) No. 7 of 2026 from the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education regarding the Assignment of Non-Civil Servant (Non-ASN) Teachers in Education Units Managed by Local Governments in 2026. Signed by Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti on 13 March 2026, the circular stipulates that non-ASN teachers may continue to perform their duties in state schools until 31 December 2026. “Non-ASN teachers shall continue to carry out their duties in Education Units managed by Local Governments, with the following provisions: a. Registered as non-ASN teachers in the Education Data up to 31 December 2024,” wrote Abdul Mu’ti in the circular. The government explained that the policy was issued to maintain the continuity of the teaching and learning process in local schools. The government also noted that there are still 237,196 active non-ASN teachers teaching in education units owned by local governments based on Education Data as of 31 December 2024. However, the policy has sparked concerns about the fate of non-ASN teachers after the transition period ends in 2026. The Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI) views the policy as indicating that the state is more focused on ASN teachers, while non-ASN teachers continue to face uncertainty in status and welfare. In fact, JPPI National Coordinator Ubaid Matraji considers non-ASN teachers as the backbone of national education services. JPPI assesses that the policy has the potential to gradually sideline honorary teachers from state schools. Ubaid stated that the government may claim there is no “sudden dismissal”, but according to him, the state is preparing a systematic termination of the non-ASN teacher system without clear and fair solutions for everyone. According to him, honorary teachers have long been the ones filling the shortage of educators due to the minimal fulfilment of ASN teachers. “In fact, for decades, these honorary teachers have been covering the shortage of teachers due to the state’s negligence in providing educational personnel,” he said.