Deputy Minister Fajar Emphasizes Teacher Governance Reform at UMS PPG Graduation

Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Fajar Riza Ul Haq emphasized the reform of teacher governance as an agenda of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education aimed at improving teachers’ welfare.

He delivered this message during a public lecture at the Teacher Professional Education (PPG) Graduation Ceremony for the 2024–2025 Academic Year at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), held at the KH Ahmad Dahlan Edutorium, Saturday (31/1/2026).

“We at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education are striving to resolve structural issues in Indonesia, especially those related to regulations and laws in the education sector,” said Fajar.

Teacher governance reform is a major agenda within national education reform. According to Fajar, the program is crucial because Indonesia still faces inequality in the education sector. This condition demands government alignment with policies that improve teachers’ welfare.

Fajar, a graduate of UMS, explained that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) continues to strive to resolve various structural issues, particularly those related to regulations and legislation in the education sector.

According to him, regulatory reforms have the main objective of improving teachers’ welfare, especially honorary teachers who have long faced uncertainty.

These improvements also target fairer teacher governance. Fajar hopes the reforms will address the issue of unequal teacher distribution across regions. “One of our main focuses is overcoming disparities in teacher distribution,” he said.

Read more: How Fajar Riza Paved His Way to the Cabinet

On the same occasion, Fajar also referred to the results of a Bank Indonesia (BI) study showing that the teacher certification program so far has not been fully aligned with improvements in education quality.

Nevertheless, he emphasized that certification remains an important instrument in enhancing the quality of educators. Kemendikdasmen, Fajar said, will require all civil servant teachers and education personnel to undergo certification.

Teacher governance reform brings hope that Indonesian children will receive quality education. He is optimistic that the education policies implemented by Kemendikdasmen will have a positive impact on both students and teachers’ welfare.

“Across all regions of this country, every child wants the best teachers for the sake of the nation’s education quality. The hope is that all children can experience the presence of excellent teachers, and that teachers receive proper welfare for their lives,” he added.

In front of the PPG UMS graduates, Fajar also conveyed his congratulations. He reminded the graduates to safeguard educational spaces so they remain safe for children.

“I congratulate all of you who today have been certified as teachers through the PPG program. Let us always protect our children from sexual violence, because they are our future and also the future of the nation,” he concluded.

Writer: Kurnia Adi

Editor: Fika Annisa’ Sholihah

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid