Manokwari, November 25, 2025 - The National Teachers' Day (HGN) commemoration ceremony at SMAN 1 Manokwari was solemn and lively. Participants enthusiastically attended the school since morning. They wore traditional clothing from various regions in Indonesia. Upon arrival at SMAN 1 Manokwari, the Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Wamendikdasmen), Fajar Riza Ul Haq and the Director of Early Childhood Education (PAUD), Nia Nurhasanah, were greeted by a traditional Papuan dance performed by the students.
While reading the speech of the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen), Deputy Minister Fajar stated that his presence in Manokwari Regency demonstrated the government's commitment to the well-being of educators in various parts of the country, including eastern Indonesia. "We hope this visit will foster collaboration among all stakeholders in the region, as our shared commitment is crucial to the success of the policy," Fajar said, dressed in traditional Papuan attire, as he officiated the ceremony.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) recognizes that Indonesia's future depends heavily on the role of teachers as drivers of change. Teachers are agents of learning and civilization. They carry the prophetic task of educating, fostering critical thinking, a clear conscience, and developing noble morals. "To the teachers, we express our gratitude for their dedication," he said before hundreds of participants at the ceremony, including teachers, students, and local government officials.
On this occasion, Deputy Minister Fajar urged teachers to remain enthusiastic about serving the nation and to continuously improve their competencies. "Improve your competencies and nurture our children wholeheartedly, because today our children face the challenge of mental health issues, which significantly disrupt their social and emotional development and determine the future health of Indonesian society," Fajar urged the teachers.
The principal of SMAN 1 Manokwari, Lucinda Patricia Mandobar, expressed pride that her school was able to host the flag-raising ceremony with the Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. "The Deputy Minister's presence here really motivates us to continue working even better so that we can achieve our goal of educating the nation's children," Lucinda said.
Pursuing her profession as an educator is a source of pride for her, as she can contribute to educating the nation. On behalf of the teachers, Lucinda expressed her commitment to continuing to support the policies of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen). "We will continue to support government policies and remain committed to dedicating ourselves to educating the nation's children, making them future leaders," she said.
The chairman of the Student Council of SMAN 1 Manokwari, Robert Imanuel Bastian, said, "We students are very enthusiastic and excited about the Deputy Minister of Elementary and Secondary Education's presence at our school. We practiced until the afternoon to be able to perform," he said, while also presenting a flower garland to Deputy Minister Fajar. Robert's friends not only danced, some also put on a drum band performance.
According to Robert, the National Teachers' Day commemoration is a moment for young people to remember the crucial role of teachers. "As the song goes, teachers are unsung heroes. They always sacrifice their time to teach us," he said. "To my teachers, thank you for always teaching us, and I am very grateful that teachers exist in this world. Happy National Teachers' Day 2025," Robert concluded.
The Acting Head of the Manokwari Regency Education Office, Pardjyanti, assessed that the Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education demonstrates the government's concern for developing the educational climate in remote areas. "Hopefully, education in Manokwari Regency will continue to improve and receive continued attention, so that the quality of education will continue to improve for the sake of the golden generation. Teachers, let's serve Manokwari Regency, West Papua Province, and Indonesia in general," she concluded.
Priority Program Achievements for Teachers
In 2025, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education issued various policies to improve teacher competence and welfare. These include a 3 million rupiah scholarship per semester for teachers who have not yet completed a Diploma 4 (D4) or Bachelor's (S1) degree to continue their education through the Past Learning Recognition Program for 12,500 teachers. There are also training programs in Teacher Professional Education (PPG), Guidance and Counseling (BK), In-Depth Learning, coding, and artificial intelligence (KA). Honorary teachers are given a 300,000 rupiah incentive per month, transferred directly to their accounts. Furthermore, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chief of the Indonesian National Police, among other things, regarding peaceful resolution for teachers involved in legal cases. "Next year there will be more programs to improve teacher quality," Fajar concluded. ***
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