TULUNGAGUNG – Tulungagung regency government is accelerating school principal appointments as around 139 schools still need permanent principals. Many schools continue to operate under acting principals, creating challenges in administration and school management.

Officials now target completing 80 percent of the administrative process this week. They expect to finalize the remaining appointments next week or by early next month.

Acting Regent Ahmad Baharudin said the restructuring process had already started last week. This week, the government is focusing on completing the final stage so appointments can move forward without delay.

“Actually, we started last week. This week we are finalizing it, and hopefully next week or early next month everything can reach 100 percent,” he said on Monday.

Baharudin explained that the selection process requires careful review and cannot be rushed. The government must evaluate each candidate based on administrative completeness, personal track record, and work performance.

He said the large number of vacant positions also makes the process more demanding. Officials must ensure every appointment meets the required standards before making final decisions.

“This human resource arrangement needs many considerations, both from personal aspects and achievements. In addition, the number is quite large, so we must be very careful,” he said.

According to him, the target of completing 80 percent this week is realistic. The remaining appointments will be finalized the following week.

“Maybe we can finish 80 percent this week, then complete 100 percent next week,” he added.

One of the main obstacles has been the limited number of candidates who already hold principal certification. This certification is one of the key administrative requirements for appointment.

Previously, only around 18 candidates had completed the required certification. This condition slowed the government’s efforts to fill vacant principal positions.

However, Baharudin said he expects the number of certified candidates to increase soon. If more candidates complete certification, the appointment process can move faster.

“Previously, the number was still around that figure, but hopefully this week it can increase,” he said.

The Tulungagung administration considers this issue urgent because many schools still rely on acting principals, known locally as Plt. This temporary arrangement often creates problems in school governance.

The absence of definitive principals affects not only managerial decisions but also the legal status of important education documents. It can also slow the disbursement of school operational funds and other administrative processes.

Without permanent principals, schools may face delays in financial planning, policy implementation, and institutional decision-making. This can affect the overall quality of education services.

Because of this, the regency government has made school principal appointments a priority. Officials want stronger and more stable leadership in schools across Tulungagung.

They hope completing the appointments soon will improve education governance, strengthen administrative efficiency, and support smoother learning operations for students and teachers.