Politicization of Teachers in the 2024 Regional Head Election in Posiga District and South Bolaang Mongondow Regency
Keywords:
Politicization; Teachers; 2024 Local Election.Abstract
This study aims to analyze the forms, driving factors, and impacts of teacher politicization in the 2024 Regional Head Election (Pilkada) in Posigadan District, South Bolaang Mongondow Regency. The main focus is on how local power relations influence teachers' neutrality as civil servants (ASN), particularly in practices related to promotion and transfer within the regional education bureaucracy. This research employs a qualitative approach with a descriptive research design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation studies involving teachers, education bureaucracy officials, and other relevant stakeholders. The collected data were analyzed through stages of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing to obtain a comprehensive understanding of teacher politicization practices in the context of the Pilkada. The findings indicate that teacher politicization is a real phenomenon that occurs in a structured manner. Teachers are often positioned as part of local political strategies, either through direct or indirect pressure. Promotion and transfer decisions are not fully based on performance and competence, but are influenced by political affiliation, personal closeness, and loyalty to local elites. This politicization intensifies before and after the Pilkada, placing teachers in a dilemma between the obligation to maintain neutrality and the need to secure their positions. Its impacts include the weakening of the merit system, a decline in teacher professionalism, and reduced trust in the education bureaucracy. Based on these findings, the study recommends strengthening oversight of ASN neutrality, improving transparency in teacher promotion and transfer policies, and reinforcing the commitment of local governments to separate political interests from education governance in order to safeguard teacher professionalism and educational quality.
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