Not Wanting a "Happy Ending" Alone, Teacher Azis Asks for the Fate of Other Honorary Teachers to Be Improved Too

JAKARTA — Happiness enveloped Abdul Azis (45), an honorary teacher at Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI) Nurul Islam 1, Kamal Muara, Penjaringan, North Jakarta, after receiving a new motorbike from volunteers. However, behind this aid, Azis emphasised that the issue of honorary teachers’ welfare must not stop at mere public sympathy. Azis views the root of the welfare problem for honorary teachers as lying in the low salaries that are not commensurate with their responsibilities as educators. He hopes that public and government attention does not end with his viral story alone, but continues to concrete policies. As a teacher who has served for nine years with a salary of around Rp 2 million per month, Azis admits to understanding the difficulty of surviving in Jakarta. Therefore, he hopes the government can consider the condition of honorary teachers in formulating education policies. The teacher responsible for subjects such as Akidah Akhlak, Fikih, Seni Budaya, and Tahfidz claims to have several policy ideas to improve the fate of honorary teachers. According to Azis, the most urgent step is to facilitate access to career advancement for honorary teachers under the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) or the Education Department through certification. “My hope for the government is first, especially for those under Kemenag, which usually relates to certification. So that teachers who are not yet certified can be assisted to get there, as soon as possible,” explained Azis. Azis also hopes that teachers under the Education Department can be assisted in the process of appointment as PPPK or other schemes so that their economic needs can be met. Previously, Azis’s story attracted public attention after he pedalled a borrowed folding bicycle six kilometres every day from Tegal Alur, Kalideres, West Jakarta, to Kamal Muara, Penjaringan, North Jakarta. He had to traverse busy roads frequented by container trucks after his old motorbike was stolen in November 2025. Through donations initiated by the Relawan Gerak Bareng organisation, Azis finally received a new motorbike. “Alhamdulillah, I am grateful to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala that there are many kind people willing to participate in giving me a motorbike. I am very thankful and extremely grateful,” said Azis. He admitted that the new vehicle would greatly help his mobility, both for going to school and teaching at taklim assemblies, which are an additional source of income.