2025 Public School Teacher PPPK Recruitment Opens: Absorbing Workforce for the Education Sector
By: Antonius Googie*
The government has again taken a strategic step to improve the quality of national education by opening the selection of Government Employees with Work Agreements (PPPK) for Education Personnel and Public School Teachers in 2025. This recruitment, held by the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemensos RI), is not simply a routine selection process, but rather part of a national strategic project that follows up on Presidential Regulation Number 79 of 2025 and Presidential Instruction Number 8 of 2025 concerning the optimization of poverty alleviation. Through this program, the government hopes to strengthen Public Schools as alternative educational institutions designed to reach vulnerable groups, including children from poor families, those who have dropped out of school, or those in difficult social circumstances.
The selection process will open from December 3–7, 2025, and will be officially announced on the Ministry of Social Affairs’ website and Instagram account. A total of 3,003 positions are available for five educational staff positions: Foster Parents, Dormitory Supervisors, School Operators, Financial Managers, and Administrative Staff. Each position plays a vital role in supporting the operations of the People’s Schools across Indonesia. Furthermore, applicants must be between 20 and 50 years old and willing to work shifts—even living in the dormitory where they are assigned. This is part of the characteristics of People’s Schools, which prioritize a community-based educational approach and 24-hour guidance for their students.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Affairs has also begun recruiting PPPK (Community Empowerment and Child Protection) teachers to be placed in People’s Schools throughout Indonesia. The need for teachers is a crucial concern given the large number of new schools opening in 2025. The Head of the Tanjungpinang Social Services Agency, Endang Susilawati, confirmed that the PPPK teacher selection process is underway. She explained that registration will be open from December 3 to 7, 2025, with the announcement of the administrative selection results on December 4–8, 2025, before moving on to the next stage, which is the determination of PPPK Identification Numbers.
Meanwhile, the Principal of Tanjungpinang Elementary School, Reni Putri, revealed that her school still lacks teachers for three important subjects—English, Arts and Culture, and Islamic Religious Education (PAI)—since the school’s inauguration in September 2025. She has submitted a request to the Tanjungpinang City Education Office and the Riau Islands Provincial Education Office to immediately fill the teaching needs. While the need is currently being met by local teachers willing to help, Reni hopes that this year’s PPPK recruitment will be able to fill the gap permanently. According to her, the presence of new teachers will strengthen the Elementary School’s capacity to provide quality education for children from underprivileged families.
The Ministry of Social Affairs’ efforts to improve teacher quality were also demonstrated through the implementation of the second phase of the Prospective Principal Training (BCKS), which was opened by the Minister of Social Affairs, Saifullah Yusuf, also known as Gus Ipul, on December 6, 2025. The training was attended by 66 participants from Elementary Schools in the IC phase and was conducted online via Zoom. In his remarks, Gus Ipul emphasized the importance of humanistic leadership in managing schools—a leadership model that prioritizes closeness, empathy, and creating a safe and supportive learning environment for the entire school community.
He explained that all training participants were already appointed as school principals after passing administrative and substantive selection. However, capacity building was still considered absolutely necessary based on Article 14 of the Minister of Education and Culture Regulation No. 7 of 2025. Participants received a variety of important materials, ranging from deep learning, growth mindset, to the implementation of flagship school programs. This training not only aimed to improve managerial competency but also prepared school principals to promote educational quality and guide students’ journeys towards a better future.
On that occasion, Gus Ipul also emphasized the five main competencies of school principals: personality, managerial, supervisory, entrepreneurial, and social. He encouraged school principals to be more thorough in identifying the potential of each student so they could be guided to continue their education to a higher level, enter the workforce, or even become entrepreneurs. Principals are also asked to create a collaborative culture, involving volunteers, community leaders, and social services in building a healthy learning ecosystem. This training will run until December 15, 2025, and will be attended online by over 100 other principals.
Recruitment programThe 2025 PPPK (Pre-Employment of Teachers and Education Personnel for People’s Schools) demonstrates the government’s strong commitment to expanding access to education for vulnerable groups while simultaneously absorbing the workforce in the education sector. With the support of clear regulations, intensive training, and a large pool of candidates, this initiative is expected to produce professional educators ready to contribute to the future of Indonesian education. The presence of competent teachers and education personnel will be the main foundation for the success of People’s Schools in producing a new generation that is more resilient, independent, and able to escape the cycle of poverty.
)* Education Observer
