SPK Criticises RUU Sisdiknas, Warns of Threats to Academic Freedom and Lecturer Welfare
The Campus Workers Union (SPK) has found at least 15 problems in the latest draft of the National Education System Bill (RUU Sisdiknas). One of the main concerns is a provision deemed to potentially restrict the academic freedom of lecturers and strengthen campus control over the implementation of the tridharma (three pillars of higher education).
This finding was presented by SPK alongside the Indonesian Caucus for Academic Freedom (KIKA) and the Education and Teachers Association (P2G) during a discussion on Thursday, 16 July 2026. They also assessed that the bill’s deliberation has not involved broad public participation.
SPK Chair Dhia Al Uyun stated that while the RUU Sisdiknas has some merits as an umbrella act by accommodating inclusivity and local content, fundamental issues remain. One criticised article is Article 188 letter a, which stipulates that the implementation of the tridharma must be carried out according to assignments from the higher education institution. This provision is seen as potentially limiting the academic space for lecturers.
“Various research and community service activities that are unfavourable to the authorities and investors influencing campuses will not be recognised as work performance,” Dhia said on Friday, 17 July 2026.
Beyond academic freedom, SPK assessed that the bill has not addressed issues of teacher and lecturer welfare, job security, or the right to unionise. The organisation believes the draft law instead has the potential to strengthen the subordination of campuses and educational units to government interests.
“This bill does not solve today’s problems regarding the welfare of teachers and lecturers, job security, academic freedom, freedom of association, and the certainty of employment status for government-bonded teachers. It actually reinforces the subordination of campuses and educational units to government interests,” Dhia added.
Furthermore, SPK noted that the bill has not integrated all regulations in the education sector, potentially leading to overlapping rules. The bill is also seen as shifting the direction of education to be more oriented towards government design rather than community empowerment.
The organisation also criticised the lack of adequate protection for teachers and lecturers in private schools and universities. According to them, the bill does not regulate professional mobility protection for educators, has not explicitly made the minimum wage the lower limit for lecturers’ base salaries, and still leaves the fulfilment of welfare to the internal mechanisms of private education providers.
SPK also recorded that the bill has not mapped out educational challenges in the digital and artificial intelligence (AI) era, has not clearly regulated the components of education financing, which could open loopholes for budget irregularities, and still contains several contradictions between articles.
Based on these findings, SPK, KIKA, and P2G are urging the House of Representatives to open the widest possible public participation in the deliberation of the RUU Sisdiknas, hold public tests, and revise the draft by including protections for the rights of teachers, lecturers, education personnel, academic freedom, and the right to unionise.