Teach First Indonesia

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Frequently Asked Questions

About Teach First Indonesia

Who is Teach First Indonesia?

Teach First Indonesia (TFI) is a locally led, globally informed initiative on a mission to nurture leaders that can transform the education ecosystem and help create a better, more equitable future for all Indonesian children. We do so by recruiting Indonesia’s future changemakers into our Fellowship program. Legally, TFI is a registered not-for-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) in Indonesia.

The Fellowship is a full-time, fully paid “from teachers to leaders” development program where we recruit a cohort of committed Indonesians to teach in high-need schools for two years. 

During the 2-year commitment, Fellows work individually and collaboratively to improve classroom outcomes and drive impactful change in underserved communities. Upon completion of the program, we empower and enable our Alumnis to continue their leadership journey and collectively contribute into making long-term improvements to the education ecosystem.

The word ‘Fellow’ refers to the passionate and committed individuals who we select to be part of our program. Following the 2-year commitment, our “Fellows” then become our “Alumnis”.

We offer a unique opportunity for you to grow as a leader while making a real difference in the lives of students, schools and communities you’ll be working with. You’ll gain valuable experiences, skills, knowledge and mindset to excel in any future career or professional context. 

Teach First Indonesia strongly believes that great teachers possess the same skills as great leaders in any field. Spending two years in the classroom will help you develop skills such as organization, communication, problem-solving in an unstructured environment, people management and resourcefulness – all of which are essential in any sector. 

And you won’t be doing it alone! We will be supporting you throughout this journey through training, workshops and on-the job coaching. Additionally, as a Teach First Indonesia fellow, you’ll be part of a network of like-minded leaders, both locally and globally, who all share the same conviction and commitment into working towards a future where every child is able to live to their full potential.

We believe that education transformation isn’t a zero sum game and that there are powers in numbers – the more of us working together, the better. That said, there are elements that we believe makes our Fellowship unique:

1. Our fellowship is a professional, not a volunteering gig.

We see our Fellowship as a career pathway program, not only into the teaching profession but for future leaders. Thus it should – and will be competitively compensated. 

2. We offer Fellows the opportunity to attain a national teacher certification.

Fellows recruited into our Fellowship will be able to register and join the PPG (Pendidikan Profesi Guru) through our joint collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbud ristek). This certification will allow Fellows to continue working as teachers and climb up the teaching profession ladder well  after the Fellowship, should they wish to do so. 

3. Teach First Indonesia is currently working to become part of the Teach for All network.

We are working to become part of Teach For All, a global learning network in 60+ countries who are all focusing on solving education inequity by deploying a  similar 2-year fellowship model.

The Fellowship Experience

Can I choose how long I want to do the fellowship?

At the moment, no. Candidates applying to the Fellowship must be prepared to commit two full years to the program. 

We believe that two years is the necessary time commitment for Fellows to have a meaningful impact on the lives of children that you teach. The Fellowship is just the start of a long journey to address educational inequity; a first step in creating a lasting movement for change.

Yes. Our Fellows receive a competitive package equivalent to a graduate teacher’s salary in public schools. Apart from a monthly take home pay, Fellows will also receive employment and health insurance, flight tickets and learning allowance.

You will be teaching students in upper elementary schools – this means students who are currently in fourth, fifth or sixth grade. As a homeroom teacher, you will be teaching students a variety of subjects – all revolving around building their foundational skills and knowledge. Specific subjects depend on the schools’ policies and conditions.

You’ll be placed in a “high-need” elementary school – this means schools who are experiencing a teacher’s shortage and whose students are at risk of not being able to receive quality education. Rest assured, you’ll be placed in an area where there is an internet connection.

Absolutely. You will be recruited into a cohort and a placement area. So while you might be assigned to teach in different schools, you’ll always have someone nearby. 

Throughout the fellowship, you will also be assigned a mentor (a senior teacher in the placement area), the support of Komunitas Guru Belajar Nusantara (a community of teachers with strong experience and qualifications in implementing student centered learning) and regular visitations as well as coaching from the TFI team and its network.

There are two types of training: before placement (pre-service training) and throughout the fellowship (in-service training).

Pre-service training: before being placed in schools, we’ll equip you with an intensive, hybrid hands-on training to develop your leadership potential, pedagogical and classroom management skills.

In-service training: throughout the fellowship, we will be giving you both online and in-person training on various topics – including but not limited to: leadership, community engagement, advocacy, career planning, project management. 

Our training is designed to help you unleash your full potential and put your best foot forward before, during and after the fellowship. We are working with individuals, organizations and communities both in education and other sectors, public and private, to support you.

Each fellows will be evaluated through a joint assessment done by their assigned mentor and the TFI team. While regular check-ins are encouraged, a formal evaluation will be scheduled at each semester. Broadly speaking, the evaluation covers fellows’ pedagogic skills, classroom management, and leadership competencies. 

No. Since Fellows will be paid a monthly salary, Fellows are expected to arrange their own housing and sustain their daily expenses. However, our team will be readily available to help smoothen transition and facilitate housing search. We are also working together with the local government to identify housing support.

Applying to the Fellowship

How do I register for the Fellowship?

Interested candidates can apply through Teach First Indonesia website by filling out the application form and submitting the required documents.

The fellowship is open to all passionate individuals with a strong conviction towards education inequity and who have the desire to make a positive impact in Indonesia. That said, we do have a few administrative requirements:

  1. Interested applicants must be an Indonesian citizen.
  2. Must be younger than 32 years old at the time of their application. 
  3. Applicants must hold, or about to graduate from – a bachelor’s degree in any major/field of study with a minimum GPA of 3.00/4.00.

Candidates must not already be registered as a teacher in Dapodik (Data Pokok Pendidikan).

Yes!

If you are already registered as a full-time teacher in Dapodik, you are not eligible for the Fellowship. This is because the Fellowship is aimed at attracting talents from different backgrounds to work alongside existing teachers in school to co-create solutions to drive educational opportunities for all. Existing teachers can be part of the movement by being mentors, coaches or collaborating with our existing network in Yayasan Guru Belajar and/or Komunitas Guru Belajar Nusantara.

If you are already registered as a full-time teacher in Dapodik, you are not eligible for the Fellowship. This is because the Fellowship is aimed at attracting talents from different backgrounds to work alongside existing teachers in school to co-create solutions to drive educational opportunities for all. Existing teachers can be part of the movement by being mentors, coaches or collaborating with our existing network in Yayasan Guru Belajar and/or Komunitas Guru Belajar Nusantara.

Yes, as long as you are certain that you’ll be able to get a copy of your degree certificate and transcript by the application deadline.

No, not at all! Our Fellowship is designed for people who come from diverse backgrounds, including those with no prior teaching experience. During our training workshops, we empower you with the necessary knowledge and skills to do well in the classroom.

The application process will go through several stages:

  1. Administrative documents: In this stage, we will be asking you to introduce yourself and help us get to know you better through submitting your documents to prove your background and academic history. 
  2. Assessment Center:  If you pass the stage before, you will be asked to attend a leaderless group discussion & interview 
  3. Medical Check-up: In the last stage, we want to make sure that you are fit and healthy for the Fellowship.

We will be asking you to submit your CV/Resume, academic certificate and transcript, a document that indicates your English proficiency and a reference contact.

No. Please complete the application in English as it is the official language we use internally within Teach First Indonesia. However, please don’t feel discouraged as we consider your application as a whole.

Yes. In the effort of being part of a global network, we would like to make sure that we are a community of people who are comfortable in communicating in English. We are flexible in how you’d like to show your proficiency – and accept scores from IELTS, TOEFL, ETS, Duolingo English Test as well as English Proficiency Test (EPT) from Institutions such as LBI UI (https://lbifib.ui.ac.id/id/language-test/ui-ept-online).  All in all, we will also still consider your application as a whole.

The deadline for the submission of the application form and required documents is a few months before pre-service training starts. Please refer to the application page for specific dates.

We are working towards holding a hybrid assessment center, which means there will be physical sessions held in Jakarta or in placement areas. For candidates who have challenges with traveling, they can attend the assessment center virtually.

Fellowship Placement

Where and where will I be placed?

At the moment, we will be placing our first cohorts of fellows in kabupaten Pesisir Selatan, West Sumatera in December 2024 and kabupaten Sanggau, West Kalimantan in July 2025.

We coordinate placement schools together with the local government and teacher communities. We prioritized schools that are currently experiencing a shortage of teachers and whose students are in dire need for support. We also consider other factors such as access to location and internet availability.

Placements schools have been shortlisted based on their needs and accessibility. But we will take your voice into account based on the competencies and/or expertise you’ve shown during pre-service training.

After the Fellowship

What happens after I complete the fellowship?

You’ll be part of our Alumni network, and a lifelong member of our community! There are many options open to you as an alumni, including but not limited to:

  • Continue building your professional career as an educator, either in or out of the classroom
  • Driving educational and/or social innovations via Teach First Indonesia or other NGOs working on issues in education or inequity.
  • Contribute to the field of education as an advocate or academic in policy and research work, or in fields related to education.
  • Joining private organizations and/or foundations whose core business may not be education but are keen on providing resources like money, skills and/or influence in order to further Teach First Indonesia’s vision and mission.

Yes – in your second year of Fellowship, we provide you support by connecting you to different partners and organizations who support Teach First Indonesia and/or are working both in the education sector and beyond.

While you can’t join the Fellowship more than once, you can always be involved in future cohorts of Teach First Indonesia through mentoring and coaching. You are also always welcome to take on an active role in the organization.

Teach First Indonesia x PPG Calon Guru

The following refers to the PPG Calon Guru program in relation to Teach First Indonesia’s Fellowship. For a detailed FAQ on PPG Calon Guru, please refer to their website: https://ppg.kemdikbud.go.id/page/faq-ppg-prajabatan)
What is PPG Prajabatan?

PPG Prajabatan or PPG Calon Guru  is an educational program conducted after obtaining a bachelor’s or applied bachelor’s degree. It is designed for graduates, whether from education or non-education backgrounds, who aspire to become teachers. The program aims to equip these candidates with the necessary qualifications to obtain a teaching certificate for early childhood education, elementary education, and secondary education.

Yes, after being selected as a Teach First Indonesia fellow, you will need to register for the PPG Prajabatan (PPG Calon Guru) program. Please refer to the official PPG website for the timeline.

No. TFI will cover the cost for the registration and the program comes with a scholarship.

If you don’t pass the PPG Prajabatan (PPG Calon Guru) selection process, you can still continue to do the Teach First Indonesia Fellowship. What this means: you can still teach for two years and become part of our Fellows as well as alumni – but won’t receive a teaching certification from Kemendikbud Ristek. 

 

Should you wish to continue teaching or build a career within the teaching profession after the Fellowship, you will need to retake the certification program at your own time.

Both programs are designed to complement each other, so staying organized and proactive in addressing challenges will help you succeed in both.