REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SURABAYA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) clarified that news of the elimination of the Teacher Professional Allowance (TPG) circulating recently. He stressed that it was s a hoax.

"Although the minister of finance has explained it, I want to emphasize again that the news is a hoax," Jokowi remarked while opening the National Coordination Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the PGRI Education Institute at the Adibuana PGRI University Surabaya on Thursday.

Jokowi reiterated that TPG will not be stopped, and if it did, he would be the first to stand for the best interests of teachers. "If it is true, I am ready to stand at the forefront to defend the interests of teachers. This is because teachers have educated the nation," he remarked.

General Chairperson of PGRI Unifah Rosyidi expressed happiness and lauded the president's response to doubts regarding the removal of the TPG. "The issue has long been circulating through social media. The PGRI has also long been convinced that the issue is a hoax, but the answer this time is that the president really cleared any misconceptions," he noted.

He explained that a teacher received TPG amounting to Rp3 million, but he/she had to clear a series of certifications, and during this time, the process was further complicated.

Under the Teacher Law, he explained that all can be certified for the position or the Teacher Professional Education Program (PPG). PPG is in office, while the shortage of teachers is a problem.

"Hence, all sides -- the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education -- must sit together to discuss how the acceleration of certification could be materialized, as it is one stage," he added.

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