Jakarta - Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (PPN/Bappenas) Rachmat Pambudy stated that teacher welfare is a strategic investment in national development because it is a key factor in quality education.
This was conveyed during a meeting with the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti, Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf, Head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, and the Board of Directors of PT Pos Indonesia.
"Teacher welfare is not just an individual issue, but a strategic investment in national development. By ensuring their welfare, we can improve the quality of national education. If the quality of education improves, then our human resources will also be more competitive at the global level," he said in an official statement, Jakarta, Sunday.
One of the efforts to improve teacher welfare is through the Direct Cash Transfer (DCT) program which aims to ensure direct, faster, and more targeted distribution of allowances to teachers who meet certain criteria.
The DCT program is expected to be a more effective solution than the current benefit distribution system.
According to the Head of Bappenas, the world of education in Indonesia still faces various challenges that need to be addressed immediately.
Based on BPS data, 58.95 percent of the Indonesian population aged over 15 years are only junior high school graduates or lower.
In addition, Indonesia's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) scores in reading, mathematics, and science are still lagging behind those of member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Limited educational facilities and infrastructure are also considered to be another factor that needs to be improved to support a more optimal teaching and learning process.