South Tangerang (Kemenag) --- The Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia recorded a significant increase in in-service Professional Teacher Education (PPG) participants in 2025. A total of 206,411 official teachers took part in this program, an increase of almost 700% compared to 2024 when 29,933 teachers participated.

Minister of Religion Nasaruddin Umar emphasized that this achievement was a tangible manifestation of the seriousness of the state in improving teacher competence. "This is not just a number, but proof of the seriousness of the Ministry of Religion presents a professional teacher, integrity, and is ready to be an example of the nation's generation," said the Minister of Religion when opening the first lecture of PPG Batch-3 of 2025, Wednesday (3/9/2025).

A budget of Rp. 165 billion for teacher investment

The surge of the participants was also supported by large budget support. According to the Minister of Religion, this year the government allocated Rp165 billion for PPG. "This figure is indeed not small in the midst of an efficiency situation, but this is a strategic investment. The key to nation's development is in education, and education is in teachers," he explained.

Furthermore, the Minister of Religion stressed that the teaching profession must be seen from four important criteria. "Professional teachers must be able to learn how to learn (learning how to learn), learn how to teach (learning how to teach), teach how to learn (teaching how to learn), and teach how to teach (teaching how to teach). These four things are the foundation of teacher professionalism," he added.

100% PAI School Teachers Complete Certification

Another proud achievement is the completion of Certification 91,028 Islamic Religious Education Teachers (PAI) in positions in schools. For the first time, all the PAI school teachers were officially certified.

In addition, certification was also given to 10,848 Christian Religious Education teachers, 5,558 Catholic Religious Education Teachers, 3,771 Hindu Religious Education Teachers, 530 Buddhist Religious Education Teachers, and 94,736 Madrasah Teachers.

"In total, more than 102 thousand teachers were successfully certified in one year," said the Minister of Religion.

According to the Minister of Religion, this achievement is in line with the Asta Cita President and Vice President regarding the development of superior human resources, as well as Asta Protas Ministry of Religion to realize friendly, superior, and integrated education.

"Teachers are a noble profession. The Messenger of Allah said," Really, I was only sent as a Muallim (teacher), "," said the Minister of Religion, confirmed the importance of the state appreciation of the teacher's role.

The Minister of Religion advised teachers to view PPG as a space for transformation, not just an administrative requirement. "With this certification, we hope that teachers will have more integrity, professionalism and become role models for the nation's next generation," concluded the Minister of Religion.

Learning Flexibility and Love -Based Curriculum

Director General of Islamic Education Amien Suyitno explained that PPG 2025 was designed to be flexible so that teachers could still carry out teaching tasks. This program is based on Learning Management System (LMS) that can be accessed online or luring, with guidance from LPTK/PTKIN lecturers.

"PPG is not only about competence, but also about the heart. We want to give birth to a professional teacher who is full of love. Therefore the curriculum is called a love -based curriculum," he said.

"The methodology is more important than the material, the teacher is more important than the methodology, and the teacher's soul is more important than the teacher himself," Amin said.

The opening of PPG 2025 also began with interfaith prayers - Islam, Christianity, Catholicism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. This joint prayer is a strong symbol of unity in diversity, as well as affirmation that religious teachers, whatever the setting of their beliefs, have an important role in maintaining the integrity of the nation.