Organising Hopes for Non-ASN Teachers

For many non-ASN (non-civil servant) teachers, updating data within the national education system may appear to be a mere administrative task. They are required to ensure that their data in the Dapodik system is valid, that they remain active in teaching, and that they meet specific requirements. However, behind this seemingly technical process lies a much greater hope: the certainty that years of service will not end in uncertainty.

Through Circular Letter of the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Number 7 of 2026, the government has affirmed that non-ASN teachers who are registered and still actively teaching may continue their assignments until 31 December 2026. This policy is not intended to transfer teachers to private schools, but rather to map and distribute teaching staff in a more structured manner.

Behind this policy, significant anxiety persists. Many non-ASN teachers are beginning to question their future once this transition period concludes. Administratively, the policy appears straightforward: teachers must be officially registered, possess valid data, and continue performing their teaching duties. Yet, behind these procedures lies a deeper message: the state is attempting to transform uncertainty into a more measurable certainty.

For non-ASN teachers, such certainty is of immense importance. They are the educators who have spent years in classrooms, supporting students, preparing lesson plans, and ensuring the continuity of the educational process. Many have received professional allowances and incentives, and some even hold teaching certificates; however, their employment status remains a question mark.

The scale of this issue is vast. Data from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education shows that the number of teachers in Indonesia for the 2025/2026 academic year reaches approximately 4.21 million people. At the same time, the government still faces a shortage of around 200,000 teachers. This fact demonstrates that non-ASN teachers are not merely supplementary, but are strategic assets to national education that sustain the continuity of educational services in Indonesia.