TRENGGALEK – Madrasah teacher shortage in Trenggalek has intensified as retirements rise while a national hiring ban prevents schools from recruiting new educators, officials say.

Since 2025, government policy has barred public institutions from appointing new honorary teachers. As a result, state madrasahs must maintain classes with existing civil service staff despite growing gaps.

Ahmad Basuki, head of madrasah education at the local Religious Affairs Office, said all teachers in state madrasahs now hold civil service status. They serve either as permanent civil servants or contract based P3K staff.

He explained that part time positions allowed under civil service rules cover only support roles such as cleaners, guards, and drivers. Therefore, madrasahs cannot use those categories to fill teaching vacancies.

Pressure increases when subject teachers retire. Each educator specializes in a specific field, so schools cannot easily reassign staff across subjects. When a mathematics teacher retires, for example, no qualified replacement may exist.

To keep classes running, many madrasahs adopt local stopgap solutions. Schools rely on voluntary teachers who assist informally without official appointment status. However, principals cannot issue formal contracts or register them in national personnel data systems.

Basuki acknowledged the policy dilemma. Madrasahs must sustain learning continuity, yet regulations block formal recruitment. Consequently, administrators depend on community support and temporary arrangements to prevent classroom disruption.

He urged policymakers to consider flexible mechanisms for replacing retired teachers. Without regulatory adjustment, madrasah teacher shortage risks widening and affecting student learning quality across the district.