Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the 2024 National Teachers’ Day Commemoration Peak Event, Rawamangun, Jakarta Province, November 28, 2024

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
May prosperity be upon us all,
Shalom,
Om swastiastu,
Namo Buddhaya,
Greetings of Virtue.

Esteemed Guests,

Distinguished Coordinating Ministers, Ministers, and Deputy Ministers of the Red and White Cabinet, Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI), Chief of the National Police (Polri), esteemed members of the committee organizing this peak event of the 2024 National Teachers’ Day Commemoration, as well as the teachers present here at the Velodrome, those watching on television, and all teachers serving across the country and abroad—whom I deeply respect and take great pride in.

Let us always express gratitude to the Almighty God, Allah SWT for Muslims, who is the Lord of all worlds. We turn to Him in prayer and seek His guidance and help.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I will not list the ministers in attendance one by one, as they have already been mentioned by Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Prof. Dr. Abdul Mu’ti, whom I greatly respect. To save time, and with all due respect, I believe it is unnecessary to repeat their names. Do you agree?

Honered Guests,

First of all, thank you for this invitation. Interestingly, I also received an invitation to attend the Independence Day commemoration of a neighboring country. However, I chose to be here because, for me, teachers are the cornerstone of Indonesia’s progress. Teachers are the pillars upon which the foundation of a nation stands.

A prosperous nation is built on the foundation of successful education. A country can only thrive when its education system excels, and at the heart of that success are the teachers. That is why I chose to be here today, among the teachers. On behalf of the Government and the people of Indonesia, I am here to express my deepest gratitude to all teachers. Without teachers, there can be no successful nation.

I stand before you today as President of the Republic of Indonesia, thanks to the dedication of my teachers. Though I may have been a somewhat mischievous student, my teachers never gave up on guiding me. Their unwavering commitment has allowed me to stand here today, serving the people of Indonesia as a President.

Recognizing that education is the key to the revival of the Indonesian nation, and that we have no other choice—we must rise, or we will remain an average country, with many of our people still living in poverty. We will eliminate poverty through education. That is why, when I was entrusted with the mandate from the Indonesian people, my primary focus, along with my team who now form the cabinet under my leadership, has been education.

In many countries, the Government’s priorities are clearly reflected in their State Budget (APBN). For instance, in many major nations, defense ranks as the top priority. In the United States, nearly 60 percent of the national budget is allocated for defense. Similarly, in India, defense is the highest expenditure in their national budget. This focus aligns with their commitment to safeguarding their nations. And indeed, if we are being honest, within our Constitution, the 1945 Constitution, specifically in its preamble, the national goals established by our nation’s founders clearly state that the primary objective is to protect. Thus, it is the element of defense.

However, as the ones entrusted with the mandate from the people, my team and I in the Red and White Cabinet, who now bear the responsibility of governance, have placed education as the top priority in our State Budget. Not only that, for the first time in Indonesia’s history, the education allocation in the 2025 State Budget is the highest ever recorded in the history of the Republic of Indonesia.

Esteemed Colleagues,

Despite our commitment and determination to prioritize education, we fully acknowledge that many challenges and shortcomings still prevail. We are aware of these realities. However, today, I stand before you, the teachers, with a sense of calm, as I can share some good news. Although we have only been in office for one month, we have already been able to announce an improvement in teachers’ welfare. Perhaps that is why the loudest applause goes to Minister of Finance.

We have increased the budget to improve the welfare of Civil Servant Teachers and State Civil Apparatus Teachers with Government Employees with Work Agreements status, as well as non-State Civil Apparatus Teachers. Civil Servant Teachers and State Civil Apparatus Teachers will receive an additional welfare benefit equivalent to one month’s basic salary, while the professional allowance for non-State Civil Apparatus Teachers has been increased to Rp2 million per month.

In 2025, there are 1,932,666 teachers certified as educators, representing 64.4 percent—a significant increase of 600,650 certified teachers compared to 2024. The budget allocated for the welfare of both State Civil Apparatus and non-State Civil Apparatus teachers will rise in 2025 to Rp81.6 trillion, an increase of Rp16.7 trillion dedicated to improving teachers’ welfare.

As part of our ongoing commitment, the Government will prioritize improving the welfare and quality of teachers. In 2025, the Teacher Professional Education Program will be implemented for 806,486 teachers, both State Civil Apparatus and non-State Civil Apparatus, who have already attained bachelor’s degree (S1) or equivalent qualifications (D4). Currently, there are still 249,623 teachers who have not yet achieved a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Starting in 2025, these teachers will gradually receive educational assistance to pursue higher education at the bachelor’s level or its equivalent.

The Government is also discussing efforts to improve the welfare of non-State Civil Apparatus teachers who have not yet been certified. This will be done through a cash transfer program, the amount and number of recipients for which will be announced in 2025. Currently, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) is conducting calculations and identifying eligible recipients by name and address.

Furthermore, to enhance the quality and equity of education services, the Government has allocated Rp17.15 trillion in 2025 for the rehabilitation, repair, and renovation of 10,440 public and private schools. These funds will be disbursed directly to the schools through a cash transfer program. Schools will manage the funds independently, enabling the assistance to have greater local impact. Materials can be sourced locally, workers hired from the surrounding areas, and a spirit of collaboration fostered. This approach ensures the benefits are more tangible and directly felt by students, teachers, and the local community.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am fully aware that we still have much to improve. It is not just 10,000 schools that need repair. We have over 330,000 schools across the country. This is no small task. However, we are determined to work hard, and we are committed to ensuring that every rupiah belonging to the people of Indonesia benefits the people of Indonesia.

Esteemed Guests,

Our country is blessed with immense wealth, and we must be grateful to the Almighty for the abundant blessings betowed upon us. We are among the few nations out of over 200 in the world to possess such rich resources. That way, I firmly believe that this Government continues to build upon the foundations laid by our predecessors. We must acknoledge the contributions of all those who came before us—every president, every minister, every administration. Each has served the nation, its people, and its future. Let us not become a nation that forgets to appreciate its predecessors, parents, and the senior educators among us.

However, with all the contributions made thus far, we now bear the responsibility to do even better, act more diligently, work with greater courage. Above all, we must have the courage to fight for a clean government, one that truly serves the people of Indonesia. Leakages caused by corruption, online gambling, smuggling, various forms of manipulation, and deceitful practices have led to the loss of much of our nation’s wealth, preventing it from benefiting the people of Indonesia. This is what we are determined to address and improve.

I have reviewed the figures and worked tirelessly with the ministers. We have a strategy, and we are confident that we will address and improve this situation. Therefore, I appeal to our teachers for their patience, resilience, and trust in us.

One of the key strategies we have implemented is providing nutritious meals for all Indonesian children and pregnant mothers. When I introduced this program, I was ridiculed and laughed at—some even called me half-crazy or completely insane. “How could it be possible to feed all Indonesian children?” they asked. I said it is possible, and it will be done. We must be a nation of courage. Let us not give up before trying, nor surrender before fighting.

I have called upon all ministers, deputy ministers, directors general, and leaders to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to serving the best interests of our people. Schools, in my belief, are the cornerstone of national development. Schools in every village, every district, and every regency are the true centers of national progress. For this reason, schools must meet high standards—ones must be clean, well-maintained, and functional. There must be no schools with collapsing roofs, nor schools lacking proper restrooms for the children.

InsyaAllah God’s willing, in the near future, I will ensure that advanced televisions are installed in every school across Indonesia. Through these screens, we will broadcast lessons and essential knowledge, ensuring that even schools in remote areas or those lacking sufficient teachers can provide the best education for all their students.

I ask for your patience, please wait for another 3-4 months. Those who will work the hardest and face the most challenges will be Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, and Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology. I can already see they will have their hands full, but that’s alright. You are honored heroes for the people and for our teachers. Serving the people is a privilege, and even more so, sacrificing for them—even giving our lives for our people—is the highest honor.

Honored Teachers,

I feel a deep connection with all of you because my parents were also teachers. Perhaps it is because of them that I have been instilled with the belief that teachers are truly the pioneers and heroes of Indonesia’s nation-building. We honor our national heroes like Bung Karno, Bung Hatta, Sjahrir, and many others. But before them, there were prominent figures like Ki Hajar Dewantara and the great scholars in Islamic boarding school (pesantren) who served as teachers. They instilled values of perseverance, dedication, patriotism, truth, justice, honesty, and the defense of our nation’s honor and sovereignty.

We also recognize that while our independence was won through  the efforts of armed fighters, we must not forget that the first Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) was a teacher—the Principal of Muhammadiyah High School in Purwokerto. Many of our national figures and freedom fighters were teachers, professors, and doctors.

That is why I am deeply grateful for this invitation. It is an honor for me. Being here today, I have one primary intention, one that is most important. I wish to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude and highest appreciation to all the teachers across Indonesia.

We understand—our efforts, the efforts of Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, and the efforts of Minister of Finance. We realize that what we have announced today may not fully meet your needs. However, this represents our commitment, and we will continue to strive toward greater improvements.

Esteemed Colleagues,

We must work to improve the lives of all our people—teachers, workers, farmers, fishermen—everyone deserves a good quality of life. And achieving that requires a clean government. Let me make it clear: corruption must end in the Republic of Indonesia. The Red and White Cabinet, under my leadership, will have zero tolerance for corruption, theft, or embezzlement. It must stop, stop, stop!

I thank you.
That concludes my remarks.

(RIF/MUR)