Indonesia’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, has come under fire after a video of his remarks about teachers went viral, sparking backlash across social media in Indonesia.
The viral remark
The controversy began when a clip from a Teacher Professional Education (PPG) event at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah, South Tangerang, started circulating online. In the video, Nasaruddin was heard saying:
“If you want to make money, don’t be a teacher, be a trader.”
What might have been meant as a motivational comment instead angered many educators, who felt their profession was being disrespected. Within hours, the clip spread widely on social media, fuelling heated discussions about teachers’ welfare and professional recognition.
Minister issues public apology
Responding to the growing criticism, Nasaruddin held a press conference on Wednesday (Sept 3, 2025) to clarify his remarks and issue a public apology, reported indonews.id.
“Once again, I sincerely apologise. I never intended to belittle the teaching profession. On the contrary, I wanted to stress that teaching is a very noble calling,” he explained.
He added that as someone who comes from a family of educators, he fully understands the sacrifices teachers make and has no intention of undermining them.
Government initiatives for teachers
To reinforce the government’s support for educators, Nasaruddin outlined several initiatives already being implemented by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
- Higher Allowances: Professional allowances for 227,147 non-civil servant teachers have been increased from Rp 1.5 million (≈ RM450) to Rp 2 million (≈ RM600) per month.
- Teacher Training: The Teacher Professional Education (PPG) program — aimed at boosting teaching competencies — saw participation surge from 29,933 in 2024 to 206,411 in 2025, a massive 700% increase.
- Permanent Positions: Over 52,000 honorary teachers have been appointed as Government Employees with Work Agreements (PPPK) in the past three years, offering them better job security and benefits.
All these initiatives reflect the state’s real commitment to improving teachers’ welfare and professional capacity,” Nasaruddin said.
Closing his statement, Nasaruddin reiterated that his remark was meant to highlight the noble nature of the teaching profession, not to insult it.
He also assured that the Ministry would continue to advocate for teachers’ rights and well-being in the future.
