Ministry Announces 150,000 Bachelor Degree Scholarships for Teachers

KBRN, Jakarta: Indonesian Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti announced on Saturday, January 3, 2026, that the government is providing Bachelor's degree scholarships for 150,000 under-qualified teachers.

Speaking during a school inauguration in Demak, Central Java, the Minister detailed how the program will use a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) scheme to fast-track degrees for preschool, elementary, and junior high school educators in just one year.

This twelve-fold increase from last year’s quota aims to ensure all teachers meet the mandatory Bachelor’s (S1) or Advanced Diploma (D4) standards while simultaneously unlocking their path to professional certification and higher allowances.

"This program is part of the government's efforts to improve the quality and professionalism of educators, especially teachers in PAUD (early childhood education), elementary, and junior high schools," he said after the inauguration of State Elementary School (SDN) 2 Wonorejo in Demak on Saturday, January 3, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He noted that the allocation for these scholarships has increased significantly compared to the previous year. "While last year it was allocated for 12,500 teachers who did not yet have a degree, this year we have prepared it for 150,000 teachers," he remarked.

The scholarship utilizes the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) scheme, which allows a teacher's years of professional experience to be converted into university credits. By utilizing this scheme, teachers are not required to undergo a traditional four-to-five-year academic path.

"Through RPL, teaching experience is calculated and recognized by universities, so a Bachelor's degree can be completed in about one year. The term is 'jamak qashar' studies, usually, it takes four to five years, but here, one year is enough," the Minister explained.

The scholarship provides approximately IDR 3 million (USD 185) per semester, which is transferred directly to government-appointed organizing universities. Once they graduate, these teachers can enroll in the Teacher Professional Education (PPG) program to obtain their teaching certification.

"Once they have a Bachelor's degree, they can participate in PPG, get certified, and eventually be entitled to receive the teacher professional allowance. This is not just a matter of formal requirements, but also about improving welfare," he said.

After certification, teachers become eligible for professional allowances, which directly impacts their financial well-being.

Minister Abdul Mu'ti emphasized that improving teacher quality and welfare is the primary key to building superior human resources. He believes high-quality education can only be achieved through a combination of adequate infrastructure and highly competent educators.

"We are committed to building a generation of superior human resources. The key is education, and the key to quality education is quality teachers and a supportive learning environment," he asserted.

In addition to teacher scholarships, the ministry is preparing a policy to strengthen student learning outcomes.

Starting in 2027, English will become a mandatory subject beginning in the third grade of elementary school. To prepare for this transition, the government will begin providing specialized training for elementary school English teachers this year.

This specific policy was triggered by a national evaluation showing that student learning achievements remain low.

"Therefore, in addition to curriculum improvements, we are also preparing teacher training and improving the quality of learning so that results will be better in the future," he noted.

In 2025, the national average score for Mathematics was around 35, while mandatory English scores averaged approximately 29. ***