Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Peak Event of the Commemoration of the 76th Anniversary of the Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI) and the 2021 National Teachers’ Day (Held Online), 27 November 2021, from Merdeka Palace, Special Capital Region of Jakarta
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Assalaamu’alaikum warahmatullaahi wabarakaatuh,
May peace be upon us all.
Om Swastiastu,
Namo Buddhaya,
Greetings of Virtue.
Distinguished Ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet,
Distinguished Chairperson of the Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI) and all ranks of management board of the Indonesian Teachers Association,
Distinguished, beloved teachers, lecturers, educators, and education staff across the country,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
On this auspicious occasion, I wish happy 76th anniversary of the Indonesian Teachers Association and National Teachers’ Day to all teachers across the country.
Let me also express my highest appreciation for the hard work and dedication of teachers across Indonesia, especially while facing a very tough challenge in the pandemic era. Teachers remain motivated to educate students by trying various new methods to continue learning process. The pandemic tests the toughness of us all, including teachers. Many different disruptions challenge teachers to stay creative and innovative in creating breakthroughs amid limitations so that the quality of education is maintained.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank God, our effort to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic is quite successful compared to other countries in the world. In-person learning can begin. Nevertheless, we must remain vigilant. In-person learning must be started with extra caution and technological utilization must be optimized. Offline learning must be combined with online [learning]. Health protocols must be observed with discipline. Testing and tracing must continue to be carried out and if there is a positive case at school or in the family of a student, it must be immediately anticipated. Accelerated utilization of digital technology due to the pandemic must carry on.
I hope all schools design an effective learning system, design a hybrid learning method that uses a combination of offline and online. Furthermore, learning materials must be more contextual, more relevant, and more contributive to students’ future. We must formulate materials and learning methods that are more interesting, not less interesting than what is available on social media, and also more sensitive to future changes and developments.
Merdeka Belajar (Freedom to Learn) policy must be utilized optimally. Sekolah Penggerak (Initiator School) program is expected to be able to create a learning environment that is safe, comfortable, inclusive, and fun. And Guru Penggerak (Initiator Teacher) program is expected to boost Indonesia’s education transformation by continuing to improve the quality of teachers who develop student-centered learning methods.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Teachers are the spirit of educational process and their role is irreplaceable. The role as a source of values and ideals, the role in creating character and moral, a future generation with independent and resilient personality. Therefore, the Government works hard to fulfil the needs of and improve the quality of teachers. Teacher shortage issue will continue to be resolved. Educational inequality will also continue to be resolved, so we can achieve advanced Indonesia.
Three years ago, on the anniversary of PGRI in 2018, I addressed the issuance of Government Regulation Number 49 of 2018. This Government Regulation gives an opportunity to non-permanent teachers who are above 35 years old, who are impossible to be inaugurated as civil servants by law, can be inaugurated as state civil apparatus, particularly contract-based government employees (PPPK) by continuing to focus on teachers’ quality. This is a form of appreciation to dedicated non-permanent teachers. The Government continues to push for the realization of recruiting one million PPPK teachers.
By paying attention to the aspiration of PGRI and giving appreciation to non-permanent teachers, the Government has given an opportunity to 173,329 non-permanent teachers to be PPPK teachers. I will continue to listen to the aspiration of teachers. I am asking teachers to join hands, to join hands with the Government to enhance the education quality of Indonesian children who will receive the baton of leadership to achieve the advanced Indonesia of which we all dream.
That concludes my speech on this auspicious occasion.
I thank you.
Wassalaamu’alaikum warahmatullaahi wabarakaatuh,
Om santi santi santi om,
Namo Buddhaya. (DH/LW)