Protests Erupt Over Six-Month Delay in Islamic Education Teacher Certification Payments in Central Lombok

Dozens of Islamic Education (PAI) teachers demonstrated at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) office in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), on Thursday, demanding the immediate disbursement of certification allowances that have been delayed for six months. The protesters began arriving at the office around 11:20 a.m. local time, carrying banners and other props. The demonstration, which lasted over an hour, became heated when the crowd demanded to meet the Head of Kemenag Central Lombok, Lalu Syahdi, but they were instead met by teacher supervisors and working groups from the ministry.

Coordinator of the Central Lombok Islamic Education Teachers Communication Forum (FKG PAI), Sugiarto, stated that over 400 teachers have yet to receive their payments. These are PAI teachers assigned to all state schools across Central Lombok. He explained that the teachers were appointed by the education service, but their certification payments are managed by Kemenag because they are Islamic Education teachers seconded to state schools. The unpaid certification allowance amounts to approximately Rp 3 million to Rp 4 million per month, equivalent to one month’s base salary, and has been outstanding for five months. Sugiarto noted that teachers are now relying solely on their base salaries.

The certification funds remain unpaid because the budget allocation has not yet been disbursed by the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu). The teachers urged Kemenag to immediately propose and process the payment. Acting Head of the Islamic Education Section at Kemenag Central Lombok, Arbain, confirmed that the allowance for Government Contract Employees (PPPK) has not been paid for five months due to insufficient budget availability. He said the ministry has requested additional funds and, based on information from the central Kemenag, is currently awaiting disbursement approval from Kemenkeu. Arbain noted that the budget for civil servants (PNS) and contract employees (PPPK) is separate, and only the PPPK payments are still pending. The total annual budget required for PPPK PAI teacher certification in the region exceeds Rp 19 billion, and he appealed to the protesters to be patient while waiting for the Finance Ministry’s approval.