Schools in West Java Still Lack Thousands of Teachers, What's the Real Cause?

           Education is the main pillar in the development of a region, and the role of teachers in it is crucial. However, in the West Java region, a major challenge arises due to the shortage of qualified teaching staff. This condition not only affects the quality of education, but also the development of the young generation who are the hope of the nation. This article will discuss in depth the reasons for causes of the teacher shortage, its impact on the education system, and the solutions that can be taken to overcome this problem. Let's explore further how we can jointly improve the quality of education in West Java.

          As reported by Radarbekasi.id (03/05/2024), Bekasi City still lacks 2,400 teachers. Each at the Elementary School (SD) level as many as 1,700 and Junior High School (SMP) as many as 700 teachers. Previously, the Bekasi City government had appointed 550 teachers as PPPK, but this has not had much impact on meeting the needs of teachers.

          The same problem occurs in Cianjur. According to Ruhli Solehudin (Head of the Education, Youth and Sports Office of Cianjur Regency) on mediaindonesia.com (12/05/2024), the number of teachers is still uneven in each school. Many teachers have to teach concurrently at the elementary and junior high school levels. Ruhli explained that the number of teachers in Cianjur Regency at that time was around 9,000 people, including teachers with ASN and PPPK status. This number is still very insufficient, considering the large need for teachers in each school. He said, "We still lack around 3,000 teachers. At least, we hope this shortage can be resolved soon."

Looking at the problems above, it can be concluded that many schools in cities in West Java are short of teachers. This is caused by many factors, including:

1. Lack of Incentives: Low salaries and lack of additional incentives make the teaching profession less attractive to prospective teachers.

2. Uneven Distribution: Teachers tend to be concentrated in urban areas, while rural and remote areas often lack teachers.

3. Budget Limitations: Many schools, especially in remote areas, experience funding constraints, which impact on their ability to recruit and retain teachers.

4. Low interest in becoming a teacher: The above problems have led many people to have a low interest in becoming a teacher.

The impacts that will occur if this problem continues to occur include:

1. Decreased Quality of Education: The lack of teachers has a direct impact on the quality of learning. Students may not get enough attention, so their understanding of the subject matter suffers.

2. Education Gap: Remote areas often feel the shortage of teachers the most, leading to disparities in access and quality of education compared to urban areas.

3. Teacher Stress: Working hours that exceed normal requirements can cause stress and burnout, potentially resulting in high rates of resignation.

If the teacher shortage continues, it will have a major impact on education in West Java. Solutions that can be implemented by the government are:

1. Increase the education budget: Local governments need to increase the budget allocation for education in order to recruit and retain teachers.

2. Placement and incentive programs: Develop a teacher placement program with special incentives for remote areas so that more teachers want to work in these locations.

3. Improved facilities and support: Improve education facilities and provide adequate support for teachers, including access to technology and learning resources.

4. Campaign for Improved Professional Status: Conduct campaigns to improve the image of the teaching profession and attract young people to choose a career as an educator.

The teaching profession is very important for the progress of a country. So this problem must be addressed immediately so that it does not become a time bomb in the future.