As predicted, there is an overflow of education graduates. This was caused by a drastic increase in the number of students interested in becoming teachers following the implementation of certification allowances.
The Research, Technology and Higher Education Ministry recorded that in 2016 there were about 254,669 Strata 1 education graduates. In reality, as was reported by this daily yesterday, the demand for teachers in 2017 was only about 27,000 people. It meant only 11 percent was absorbed.
The certification allowances, which are twice the basic salary, have changed the perceptions of senior high school/vocational school graduates. With these allowances the education study program has become popular.
In response to the interest shown by high school graduates, educational institutes of teachers (LPTK), which produces prospective teachers, also grew exponentially. Previously, there were only 12 LPTKs of the former Teachers\' Training Institutes (IKIP) and 24 faculties of teachers and education sciences at state universities plus private LPTKs. That grew to more than 410 private LPTKs.
According to the education database, there are 5,579 state and privately registered education study programs. The number of students reached about 1.18 million with graduates exceeding 100,000 per year.
Despite the huge number, the quality of LPTKs also varies widely. Not all LPTKs have adequate education facilities and infrastructures, a strict curriculum and qualified lecturers.
In reality, to realign the quality of education in the country improvements must be made. The government has to calculate the number of teachers needed for each level of education, ranging from elementary, junior high and senior high school/vocational and others with the equivalent level. Teacher qualifications, which are needed for the present and future based on their field, also have to be calculated. This mapping should be accompanied by an increase in teacher competence as well as training on a regular and continuous basis.
Improvement in the quality of existing LPTKs should not be neglected. If necessary, a moratorium on new permits needs to be implemented together with the imposition of strict requirements and high standards for managing the LPTKs.
Of the requirements, they should include an improvement in the selection of LPTK student candidates. Currently, there are no special requirements to become an LPTK student. The selection process is the same as in other fields. In countries where the quality of education is excellent, only the best students, who have high academic grades and pass psychological tests, are selected to become teachers.
Therefore, an improvement in the quality of education has to start with the tightening of the selection process for prospective teachers and the upgrading of teaching training institutions to bolster the quality of education in Indonesia.
