Daftarsbmptn.com – Amid public scrutiny of the low learning outcomes of Indonesian students in international surveys like the PISA (Public Workplace Assessment and Evaluation), an important question arises: to what extent does the welfare of teachers, especially contract teachers, impact the quality of education in the country?
According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS, 2025), the education sector remains among the five occupations with the lowest average salary, at around IDR 2.79 million per month. This situation indicates that many teachers, especially those with honorary or non-civil servant status, do not enjoy adequate welfare.
Conditions of Honorary Teachers in the Field
In several regions, including the city of Bandung, the welfare of honorary teachers remains a major concern. According to a report by Pikiran Rakyat (2024), some honorary teachers in Bandung still receive salaries ranging from IDR 500,000 to IDR 1.5 million per month, depending on teaching hours and financial assistance from the local government.
In fact, the Bandung City Minimum Wage (UMK) in 2025 reached IDR 4.1 million, meaning that the income of these honorary teachers is still far from a decent standard of living.
Acting Head of the Bandung City Education Office, Dani Nurahman, stated that the city government is trying to expedite the disbursement of honorariums so that teacher welfare can be improved.
“God willing, the honorarium will be disbursed next week,” said Dani Nurahman, as quoted by AyoBandung.com (2025).
Meanwhile, Bandung Mayor Muhammad Farhan emphasized that the city government is reviewing the honorarium increase policy to ensure it aligns with current economic conditions.
“We are indeed working hard to ensure that the honorarium received is fair and humane.”
Low Salaries, Threatened Quality
The low salaries of honorary teachers are not only an economic issue, but also have a direct impact on motivation and professionalism in teaching. According to Juliyatmono, a member of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), the teaching profession in Indonesia should receive equal recognition compared to other strategic professions.
“Ideally, teachers’ salaries in Indonesia should reach IDR 25 million per month to improve the quality and dignity of educators,” he said, as quoted by Kompas.com (2025).
Facts on the ground show that many honorary teachers in Bandung have to find additional work, such as private tutoring or selling online, to make ends meet. As a result, they have less time to prepare lesson materials and less concentration in teaching. Furthermore, the high administrative burden without adequate compensation adds pressure on teachers, reducing motivation and innovation in the classroom.
Government Policy: Solution or Temporary Patch?
The central government has announced a policy to increase teacher salaries and allowances in 2025. Civil Servant (ASN) teachers will receive an additional one-time base salary, while certified non-ASN teachers will receive a professional allowance of around IDR 2 million per month.
Furthermore, the implementation of the policy is often uneven. Several honorary teachers in Bandung reported not receiving their allowances on time due to delays in verification by the local education office. This situation creates inequality and undermines trust in government policies.
Direct Impact on Education Quality
Teacher welfare is directly proportional to the quality of education. Well-off teachers are highly motivated, capable of innovation, and more focused on student development.
Conversely, teachers with low salaries often struggle to attend training, purchase teaching materials, or even meet basic family needs.
A study by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (2024) showed that schools with teachers with better welfare had 15–20% higher student learning outcomes than schools with low-income teachers. In other words, salary increases are not only a matter of social justice, but also a strategic investment in developing the quality of human resources.
Conclusion: Honorary Teacher Welfare is a National Investment
The case of honorary teachers illustrates the national reality: teacher welfare is still far from ideal. The government’s efforts to increase salaries are commendable, but they must be accompanied by reforms to the education system and equitable policies at the regional level.
Improving teacher welfare is not a burden on the budget, but rather a long-term investment for the future of Indonesian education.
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