“Commission IV Urges Local Government to Find Solutions for Teacher Shortage in Bekasi City”

BEKASI CITY – Commission IV of the Bekasi City DPRD has highlighted the shortage of teachers in Bekasi City. Recent data shows that, as of now, the shortage of teachers for kindergarten, elementary, and junior high school levels has reached nearly 3,600.

Wildan Fathurrahman, Deputy Chairman of Commission IV of the Bekasi City DPRD, stated that the teacher shortage is an ongoing issue in Bekasi City. According to available data, in 2024, Bekasi City faced a shortage of nearly 4,700 teachers, including those for kindergarten, elementary, and junior high schools.

“The 2025 PPPK recruitment did address 1,000 teachers, but that still leaves a shortage of around 3,600 teachers to this day,” said Wildan Fathurrahman during a meeting at the Bekasi City DPRD building.

Wildan expressed disappointment at the lack of breakthroughs, especially considering the Bekasi City Education Office’s budget of Rp1.8 trillion, which accounts for over 20% of the regional budget. During a working meeting with the Education Office regarding preparations for the 2026 RKPD, Commission IV uncovered concerning facts—new teacher additions would only occur in 2026 through the P3K selection process, with new hires becoming active in 2027.

“This means there will be no additional teachers in 2026. The only program offered is teaching internships for students. We strongly criticize this,” he emphasized.

He acknowledged that the student internship program could serve as an emergency solution, but the numbers fall far short of the actual need.

“Our teacher shortage is 3,600, but only 200 student interns are being accommodated. Even as an emergency measure, we should have at least 1,000 interns, distributed to schools with the most severe shortages,” he said.

Similarly, Ahmadi Madonk, a member of Commission IV of the Bekasi City DPRD, stressed that the teacher shortage violates the mandate of Law No. 20 of 2003 on the National Education System.

“Article 5, Paragraph 1 clearly states that every citizen has the right to receive quality education. How can quality be achieved if there’s a lack of teachers, let alone if their competence isn’t addressed?” said Ahmadi.

He argued that this issue demands political will and swift action from the Bekasi City Mayor.

“We cannot allow the next generation to miss out on proper education. This must be addressed collaboratively with the DPRD and resolved as quickly as possible,” he asserted.