Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia During the Celebration of 78th Anniversary of Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI) and National Teachers Day of 2023, at Britama Arena Kelapa Gading District, North Jakarta, November 25, 2023
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Good morning, may prosperity be upon us all,
Shallom,
Om swastiastu,
Namo Buddhaya,
Greetings of virtue,
Honorable Ministers of Indonesia Onward Cabinet attending the event,
Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Prof. Muhadjir,
Minister for Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem,
Also attending the event Commander of Indonesian Defence Force (TNI) and Chiefs of Staff, Chief of National Police, and [Acting] Governor of Jakarta Province,
Honorable Chairperson of Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI) Ibu Prof. Dr. Unifah Rosidi, M.Pd.,
Honorable Regents and Mayors attending the event today,
All chairpersons and representatives of PGRI from all provinces, regencies, cities, branches and sub-branches attending the event today,
Honorable big family of PGRI teachers, lecturers, teaching staff, and all attendees and invitees.
First of all, to the big family of PGRI, I would like to say happy 78th anniversary of PGRI, and happy national teachers’ day.
On this good occasion, on behalf of myself, the Government and the people, I would like to say thank you for the dedication and contribution shown by the teachers in educating the Indonesian young generation, in educating us all.
To be a teacher is not an easy job, not an easy job. According to international research institution RAND Corporation in 2022, I was surprised to find out that the stress level experienced by the teachers is higher than that of other occupations.
However, I see that all members of PGRI are happy, which means that the research institution is probably not from Indonesia. Again, this is an international research institution, saying that the stress level experienced by the teachers is higher than that of other occupations.
Why? It was mentioned that due to, among others, the students’ behavior and also changes in curriculum. Be careful, Minister for Education and Culture. Anyway, curriculum has to change because change will always take place, especially today, technology disruption happens so fast. It continues to change every day. It is also due to technology development.
So, there are three causes; first, the students’ behavior; second, changes in curriculum; third, technology development. No matter what, all teachers should keep themselves updated with current technology. Maybe, it is easier for the teachers who work in towns, but for the teachers who work in outer, foremost, and underprivileged areas with limited infrastructure and facilities, and limited available teachers, I am sure that it must be hard.
Honorable Teachers,
We know that in 2030s, 2023, 2035, we will get the top of our demographic bonus. In a country’s civilization, it is a very rare opportunity and if we could take the chance, use the opportunity, this country could make a leap to be an advanced country.
However, if we fail to do so, as we have seen in Latin America countries, in the 50s, 60s, 70s, they already became developing countries, but until today, it has been 50 years, 60 years, 70 years, they remain developing countries and even some of them became poor countries. Why? Because when they got the opportunity, they could not use the opportunity as well as possible.
Therefore, the opportunity to have a demographic bonus in 2030s, 2035, should be used optimally, and by that time our population will be dominated by the young generation. This is a golden opportunity for the advancement of our country Indonesia if we can benefit from it. Development, therefore, human resource development is the key, and it is your responsibility, Ladies and Gentlemen, be it those who attend this event or not, those who are teachers.
Once again, we can use the opportunity if we can create an excellent and tough generation that is physically and mentally healthy, that is Indonesia-oriented, smart and skillful. I have spoken to many international institutions, “President Jokowi, the key is human resource development, human resource quality is the key.”
I asked the World Bank and they said the same thing. I asked the IMF, they said the same thing. I asked OECD, they said the same thing. I asked McKinsey, they said the same thing. Therefore, we must be very careful to use this opportunity if we want to aim at the golden Indonesia in 2045, and the key is, once again, human resources development quality. And, it all can be achieved with excellent and great teachers before me today.
Teachers who can perform as guide, motivator, mentor, best friend, and role model. In Javanese, there is a saying “teachers are those who can be trusted and be role model.” With your role, Ladies and Gentlemen, which is very strategic, the Government has a high hope on you, and I hope that PGRI and all educators can continue to fight for an inclusive, safe, and comfortable education and also fun for all our children.
Schools should serve as a learning place to develop and grow children’s talents and potentials so they can be strong physically, emotionally, and spiritually, as well as become smart and skillful.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the teachers that I am proud of,
The Government continue to work hard to provide support for the teachers, including welfare improvement, addressing issues on non-tenured teachers concerning their career certainty and welfare which are currently resolved in stages, thanks to the program of selection for teachers with the status of agreement-based government employees (ASN PPPK).
I have just received a report from Minister for Education, Culture, Research, and Technology and Minister for State Apparatus Utilization and Bureaucratic Reform, showing that recruitment for teachers with the status of ASN PPPK held in 2021 and 2022 enabled 544,000 non-tenured teachers to be appointed as ASN PPPK teachers. We hope that within three years, there will be approximately 840,000 teachers recruited as ASN PPPK and in 2024, the number will reach to 1 million ASN PPPK teachers.
Once again, I would like to say happy 78th anniversary of PGRI, and happy national teachers’ day. Keep innovating, keep adapting to changes of the era, keep adapting to technology development to create Indonesian excellent human resources for the advancement of our beloved Indonesia.
Long live teachers! Long live teachers! Long live PGRI!
Solidarity! Who are we?
That concludes my remarks and thank you.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
(AW/EP)