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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

Indonesia Assures Contract Teachers Safe from Mass Layoffs

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • The Indonesian government assures that contract teachers will not face mass layoffs during the restructuring of non-civil servant personnel.
  • The Ministry of Education is working with the Ministry of Administrative Reform to ensure teachers can continue teaching while awaiting selection processes.
  • This assurance provides relief to hundreds of thousands of contract teachers crucial for national education quality.

The Indonesian government has provided assurances that contract teachers, known as 'guru honorer,' will not face mass layoffs as the nation restructures its non-civil servant workforce. Nunuk Suryani, Director General of Teachers and Education Personnel at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, confirmed that the government is committed to ensuring these educators can continue their vital work.

Suryani stated that the Ministry of Administrative Reform and Bureaucratic Reform is collaborating with the Ministry of Education to develop a stable process for these teachers. "Menpan [Minister of Administrative Reform] conveyed that there will be no mass layoffs," Suryani said in a press statement in Jakarta on Wednesday (July 15, 2026).

This announcement comes as a significant relief to hundreds of thousands of contract teachers who play a critical role in maintaining educational quality and accessibility across Indonesia. The government recognizes their strategic importance and is designing a transparent and fair selection mechanism to accommodate non-civil servant educators.

Menpan conveyed that there will be no mass layoffs.

— Nunuk SuryaniThe Director General of Teachers and Education Personnel confirmed the government's stance on contract teachers.

"He conveyed that non-civil servant teachers will have a fair selection process, one that favors teachers," Suryani added. The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education is ensuring the continuation of contract teachers' assignments under existing regulations while preparing for a transparent and equitable selection process. This aims to maintain educational services for students nationwide.

The government is currently calculating the national teacher quota. In the interim, contract teachers are urged to continue their duties. This policy is reinforced by Circular Letter Number 7 of 2026, which guides regional governments in extending contract teachers' assignments and guaranteeing their salaries. The government's commitment to protecting educators and enhancing the quality of human resources in education is seen as a tangible demonstration of its dedication to Indonesia's educational future.

He conveyed that non-civil servant teachers will have a fair selection process, one that favors teachers.

— Nunuk SuryaniThe Director General of Teachers and Education Personnel explained the upcoming selection process for non-civil servant teachers.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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