{
  "id": 4960465,
  "title": "Cost of recentralization",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/cost-of-recentralization",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-01T23:06:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Jakarta Post",
    "slug": "the-jakarta-post",
    "url": "https://www.thejakartapost.com/opinion/2026/09/02/cost-of-recentralization.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Recent efforts to centralize government functions have sparked widespread disruption, according to recent reports. President Prabowo Subianto's administration has been accused of adopting an overly heavy-handed approach when dealing with regional disputes. This pattern, characterized by the government \"being present\" more forcefully in times of crisis, has extended even to the issue of teacher recruitment.\n\nThe central government's decision to take over teacher recruitment entirely from regional administrations has led to severe public service disruptions. This move, aimed at addressing unpaid wages of contract workers, has been criticized for undermining regional autonomy and fiscal balance. The scheme, known as the Government Employees with Work Agreements (PPPK), was designed to provide equitable welfare distribution across provinces, but the recent centralization efforts have instead triggered a hiring crisis.\n\nUnpaid wages, disrupted public services, and sluggish disaster response efforts have fueled frustration among citizens, leading to protests demanding a more collaborative approach. While the central government's intention to pay contract workers directly is commendable, the unilateral control over teacher hiring raises concerns about the erosion of regional authority. This shift risks expanding the central bureaucracy and stripping local administrations of the legitimate powers they were granted under decentralization nearly three decades ago.\n\nTraditionally, recruitment and candidate assessment were managed by local education agencies. However, the recent centralization efforts have shifted this responsibility to the national state budget, potentially creating a massive expansion of the central bureaucracy. This development, coupled with the disruption of regional transfer mechanisms, highlights the government's heavy-handed approach to resolving complex issues. Addressing this matter requires a more nuanced understanding of the challenges faced by regional administrations and a commitment to open dialogue and compromise.",
  "summary": "It seems to have become a pattern under the government of President Prabowo Subianto. When problems erupt, the state must “be present”, as the President often puts it, which translates into asserting itself more forcefully.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}