Prabowo Admits Teacher Salaries Are Inadequate, House Commission X Says Rp 5 Million Is Appropriate
President Prabowo Subianto has admitted that salaries for teachers and civil servants are still not good because state funds continue to be stolen by irresponsible parties. Deputy Chairman of House Commission X, Lalu Hadrian, stated that ideally, a teacher’s minimum salary should be Rp 5 million.
“We have calculated in Commission X that a minimum of Rp 5 million is a decent figure or the most appropriate nominal amount for teacher welfare,” Lalu said at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday (24/6/2026).
Regarding Prabowo’s remarks, Commission X views them positively. Indeed, teacher salaries have not experienced a significant increase.
“Actually, it is not that they have not increased; they have. But it is indeed not yet optimal. So, of course, the president wants to convey the message that the government is currently formulating the ideal amount for teacher salaries,” he stated.
“Therefore, despite this, we in Commission X continue to push for teacher salaries to truly rise according to a decent calculation,” he added.
Lalu said that in the 2027 budget, the government has already prepared a budget allocation for teacher salary increases. Lalu believes Prabowo always considers teacher welfare.
“We have already seen in the 2027 budget posture that there is good faith from the government to prepare a budget for increasing teacher salaries and allowances, both for civil servant and non-civil servant teachers,” he said.
Prabowo delivered his remarks on teacher salaries during the closing ceremony of the National Deliberation and Grand Conference of Nahdlatul Ulama at IAI Syaichona Mohammad Cholil, Bangkalan Regency, East Java, on Tuesday (23/6/2026).
“I want to convey in this forum because I want you, NU members, as leaders, as scholars, as teachers, as guides of the people, to understand why teacher salaries cannot be good, why civil servant salaries cannot be good, why the budget is always insufficient. Yes, because the money is not there; it is continuously being taken,” Prabowo said.
Prabowo stated that he has involved experts to calculate the total state losses due to leaked state wealth. He mentioned that the state has lost up to Rp 2,500 trillion.
“We have calculated the leakages, experts now calculate it to be approximately 150 billion USD per year, Rp 2,500 trillion per year. And I am fixing all of this,” he said.
On the same occasion, Prabowo expressed sadness that the nation’s wealth is not being enjoyed for the state’s benefit. He acknowledged this as negligence by various parties.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I have only been leading the government for about 18 months. I myself am shocked, surprised, and saddened to see how much of our wealth has been lost all this time. Let us not look for blame; let us consider this our collective negligence,” he said.
Prabowo then emphasised that he will safeguard the state’s wealth for the people’s benefit during his leadership.