Teacher Allowances Stalled for Three Months

Indonesia's teachers' professional allowance (TPG), or certification allowance, for July-September 2026 had not been disbursed by mid-October. The educators' entitlements have been stalled for three months, sparking complaints in various regions.

House of Representatives (DPR) Commission X Deputy Chair Lalu Hadrian Irfani urged Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara to process the disbursement immediately. The commission set a one-week deadline.

"As of today, the professional allowance, the certification allowance, has not been paid by the central government," Lalu said at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday (10/12/2026). He said he had received many WhatsApp and SMS messages containing complaints from teachers across the country.

Parliament Sets One-Week Deadline

Lalu asked the new finance minister to review and trace the disbursement request files so payments can proceed. Bureaucratic hurdles, he said, must not stand in the way of fulfilling teachers' rights and welfare.

"If the new finance minister hasn't read this letter, please find out where it got stuck. What's clear is that our teachers have not received their professional or certification allowance for three months," he stressed.

He hopes the change of finance minister will not become an excuse for prolonged delays. "I hope that within one week at the latest it will be sent to our teachers," he said.

Education Ministry Letter Stuck at Finance Ministry

Lalu rejected suggestions that the delay was caused by unavailable funds. He stressed the budget exists, has been approved by parliament, and is allocated every year for teachers' rights.

"Why hold it back when the budget is there? We have approved it; please don't keep holding it because this is a necessity. It's what our teachers need and their right to receive it," he said.

He noted that the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry (Kemendikdasmen) had submitted its disbursement request long ago. Yet, entering the third month, the allowance payments had still not materialized because the administrative process was stuck at the Finance Ministry.