By: Ricky Rinaldi )*
Good news for lecturers throughout Indonesia! After a long wait and many questions that have arisen, finally the government has officially disbursed the Performance Allowance (Tukin) for State Civil Apparatus (ASN) lecturers. This is not just about money, but also a form of state appreciation for the great services of the nation’s teachers.
Lecturers are one of the spearheads of higher education in Indonesia. They not only teach in class, but also research, write, guide students, and even go out into the community to serve. But unfortunately, so far their welfare has often been questioned. Many lecturers work hard day and night, but have not fully received adequate compensation.
Through the latest policy signed by President Prabowo Subianto, the hopes of lecturers are starting to see a bright spot. The government has enacted Presidential Regulation Number 19 of 2025, which is the legal basis for the disbursement of tukin for lecturers and teaching staff within the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology.
The Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani, said that this tukin will begin to be disbursed in July 2025 for around 31,066 ASN lecturers. The provision is adjusted to performance achievements from January to June 2025.
This step was also welcomed positively by many parties, including from within the government. Acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Education and Science and Technology, Prof. Togar M. Simatupang, explained that the government had proposed an additional budget of IDR 2.5 trillion to realize this tukin.
Not only officials, lecturers themselves also welcomed this news with enthusiasm. The National Coordinator of the ASN Lecturer Alliance of the Ministry of Education and Science and Technology (ADAKSI), Anggun Gunawan, stated that this tukin is not just a bonus, but a right that has long been promised. His party greatly appreciates the government’s commitment. This will increase enthusiasm in carrying out the Tridharma of Higher Education.
Tridharma are the three main tasks of lecturers: teaching, researching, and serving the community. All three require extraordinary energy, time, and dedication. So it is only natural that the state finally stepped in to provide more concrete support through this policy.
The disbursement of tukin is not just about numbers, but also about recognition. So far, many lecturers have served selflessly, even having to spend their own money for research or attending seminars. With tukin, that burden can be reduced little by little. Lecturers can focus more on the quality of teaching and the development of knowledge.
Not only that, tukin is also expected to encourage increased performance. Because it is given based on work achievements, this system makes lecturers more motivated to show their best performance. This will have a direct impact on students, who will receive better quality teaching, as well as more innovative research.
However, of course, the disbursement of tukin must also be followed by a neat system. The government and campuses need to ensure that there is no convoluted bureaucracy that actually complicates the process. Lecturers must be accompanied, not burdened, with transparent and efficient performance reporting.
Lecturers who are more prosperous will be more enthusiastic in guiding students, conducting useful research, and making innovations that can help our daily lives. Starting from food technology, renewable energy, to social solutions—all can be born from campus.
Of course, there are still challenges that must be resolved. For example, not all universities have an ideal performance assessment system. Or the gap between lecturers in the city center and the regions. But this step is very important. This is a strong signal that the government is not sitting idly by, and really wants to improve the condition of education from within.
This step is an important signal for the younger generation who are considering pursuing a career in academia. With government attention such as the disbursement of this tukin, the world of lecturers is no longer seen as an “idealistic but poor” profession. On the contrary, now becoming a lecturer can have promising career prospects both financially and in terms of prestige, as long as it is carried out with integrity and high dedication.
In the future, the hope is that tukin will not stop at the initial disbursement. There needs to be sustainability, routine evaluation, and improvement of the performance assessment system so that this policy truly encourages positive change. Quality education starts with empowered teachers. So, if the state continues to be present and support them, we can be optimistic that the future of Indonesian education will be brighter.
The disbursement of this tukin also gives new hope to students. With more prosperous and enthusiastic lecturers, the quality of education will increase. This will have a positive impact on the intellectual development and abilities of students who will later become future leaders of the nation. With the recognitionand better incentives, lecturers will be more optimal in providing the best for the next generation of the nation.
Along with efforts to improve the quality of education in Indonesia, the sustainability of this policy needs to be encouraged. So that lecturers, who have a vital role in educating the nation, are not only appreciated with words but also with concrete and sustainable policies. We must be optimistic that improving the welfare of teaching staff will create a positive cycle, where Indonesian education will be increasingly classy and can compete at the global level.
)* Observer of Strategic Issues
