TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Thousands of teachers marched from the National Monument (Monas) to the Arjuna Wijaya Horse Statue in Central Jakarta, Indonesia, on Thursday, October 30, 2025, demanding equal treatment and permanent employment status from the Indonesian government.
The protesters, representing the National Movement Against Teacher Discrimination, urged President Prabowo Subianto to grant Government Employee with Work Agreement (PPPK) status to private Islamic school (madrasah) teachers.
“We have around 27,000 teachers gathered here today with one main demand — to meet the President,” said movement representative Muhammad Zein at the State Secretariat Office in Jakarta.
The teachers submitted their demands to Deputy State Secretary Juri Ardiantoro, as President Prabowo was unable to meet them due to his departure for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in South Korea.
“We wanted to meet the President, but he isn’t here,” Zein said.
Accusations of Discrimination
He explained that many private madrasah teachers have devoted decades of service but continue to face what they describe as discrimination from the state. Zein compared their treatment to that of honorary teachers in public schools, who have been granted opportunities for PPPK appointment.
“Private madrasah teachers deserve the same right to be appointed as PPPK, just like honorary teachers in public schools,” he said.
Zein and his colleagues expressed hope that Prabowo would meet with them soon and issue affirmative policies for private madrasah teachers. “Without PPPK recognition, discrimination between public schools and madrasahs will persist,” he added.
Although they could not meet Prabowo directly, Zein said that Juri Ardiantoro had promised to deliver their message to the President.
Madrasah Teachers Outnumber Honorary Teachers
Heri Purnama, chair of the National Indonesian Madrasah Teachers Association (PGMNI), said the number of private madrasah teachers is significantly higher than that of honorary teachers in public schools — a condition that has remained unchanged for decades.
“We haven’t found any other way to improve the welfare of madrasah teachers,” Heri said.
He noted that private madrasah teachers had already held discussions with the House of Representatives’ Commission X, Commission XIII, and the Legislative Body (Baleg). Meeting with the President, he said, was their final step.
“All teachers are united in their message: President Prabowo, please improve the welfare of madrasah teachers and treat them as equally as other educators,” Heri said.
Awaiting Presidential Response
While he believes in Prabowo’s commitment to improving education quality, Heri said that madrasah educators have yet to feel its impact. “We haven’t seen that commitment extended to Islamic education,” he said.
He also suggested that Prabowo should have prioritized meeting the teachers over attending the APEC Summit, but added that they remain patient.
“We hope that within the next week, there will be good news for madrasah teachers,” Heri said.
State Secretariat’s Response
At the same event, Deputy State Secretary for Political, Legal, Defense, and Security Affairs Juri Ardiantoro clarified that the President did not refuse to meet the teachers but was unable to due to his travel schedule.
“It’s not that the President didn’t want to meet them. He was simply not available,” Juri said.
He emphasized that Prabowo’s commitment to education remains strong, ensuring that no Indonesian child is left behind, whether in public schools, madrasahs, or religious institutions.
“President Prabowo is committed to improving all educational facilities and services,” Juri said, citing initiatives such as Sekolah Rakyat (People's School), Sekolah Garuda (Garuda School), and nationwide school renovation programs.
He added that the government would relay the teachers’ demands to Prabowo. “We can’t make immediate decisions today, as this issue involves many parties and requires further discussion,” he said.
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