Teacher Recruitment Potentially to be Returned to Central Government
President Prabowo Subianto has revealed that the government is currently reviewing the possibility of returning the authority for teacher recruitment and appointment to the central government. This policy is being considered as part of an effort to overhaul the national education system.
“Either that, or they must pass a competency test. Only then can they be appointed,” he replied when asked about the possibility of returning teacher recruitment to the central government during a video titled ‘President Prabowo Answers: Decisiveness, Policy, Challenges, and the Future of Indonesia’ uploaded to the Prabowo Subianto YouTube channel.
According to Prabowo, educational improvements must be comprehensive, including the recruitment process for educators. He questioned the objectivity of the teacher recruitment process if the authority remains entirely at the regional government level.
“If it is handed over to regency governments or provincial governors, can we be certain of the quality of teacher recruitment? We must speak of reality. Is the regent objective, or does he appoint his relatives as teachers? His campaign team? And so on. This is our dilemma,” Prabowo stated.
To address the disparity in teacher quality, Prabowo said the government could implement courses, training, and skill enhancement programmes for teachers. He also emphasised the digitalisation of classrooms as a key step.
“That is why I want to leapfrog. This is a difficulty, which is why I am placing digitalisation in all classrooms, so that teachers who are less capable can also learn from it. And children from disadvantaged backgrounds can be motivated to learn through it,” said Prabowo.
However, Prabowo noted that digitalisation cannot replace the role of teachers, as fundamental educational reforms still require quality recruitment and teacher training.
Regarding a ‘crash programme’, the government currently has plans to create an initiative for top university graduates to assist in teaching at the most disadvantaged schools.
“One of the steps I am considering to address this issue is a crash programme; perhaps I will recruit the best graduates from all faculties to become teachers. Let us call them emergency teachers that we deploy to schools,” said Prabowo.
Additionally, Prabowo intends to involve civil servants (ASN) who are currently working to undergo assignments of two to three weeks in schools according to regional needs.