LAMONGAN-Media Indonesia. The achievement of the teachers’ qualification program this year on national scale showed a significant increase. Around 41% teachers were announced to posses a first degree (S-1) certificate. This number increased from last year’s of only 30%.

This issue was made clear by the Minister of National Education Bambang Sudibyo, during the socialization event of certifying and supporting poor students in Kabupaten Lamongan, Tuban, and Bojonegoro, East Java, last week end. “For this reason, the government will constantly simplify the way for teachers who have not yet reached the minimum requirements, so that in the near future every teacher will own a first degree certificate,” says he.

According to the Minister, teachers are the key success factor in education, whose qualification and well-being must be improved. A teacher’s job to increase the quality of human resources cannot be separated from those two factors. The achievement of a good qualification will help teachers in applying the curriculum of education units as a reflection of school autonomy.

On this event also, the Head Educational Office of the Province of East Java, Rasio explained that the development of teacher’s certification in his area is improving. In 2006, the quota in East Java was as many as 5,946 teachers and those passing certification were as high as 98%. In 2007, the quota increased to 23,271 and in 2008 it increased further to 31,339.

Linked to the plan of the Educational Office of West Java to apply the 12 years obligatory learning program, Rasio explained that this is because East Java has managed to achieve an APK of 99.4%.