Jo-ELT (Journal of English Language Teaching) Fakultas Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris IKIP
Vol. 13 No. 1 (2026): June

Out-of-Field Teaching in Elementary Schools: Preparedness of Pre-Service PPG English Graduates in Indonesia

Khofifah Indah Sari (Universitas Sriwijaya, Indonesia)
Soni Mirizon (Universitas Sriwijaya, Indonesia)
Machdalena Vianty (Universitas Sriwijaya, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Jun 2026

Abstract

The Pre-service Teacher Professional Education programme (PPG Prajabatan) in Indonesia faces ongoing challenges related to assignment linearity, resulting in a gap between specialization-based training and classroom realities. This issue is particularly evident among English education graduates assigned to elementary schools and required to teach multiple core subjects beyond their training. This qualitative single-case study investigated how the pre-service PPG programme prepared English education graduates for non-linear teaching roles, focusing on the experiences of English specialists transitioning to generalist roles in elementary schools. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with graduates in Palembang and analysis of PPG syllabi and relevant government regulations. Interview data were thematically analyzed, while documents were examined through content analysis to evaluate professional preparedness and identify systemic competency gaps. The findings reveal that, while the programme successfully developed pedagogical, technological, administrative, and professional competencies, these forms of preparedness were largely universal and insufficient for managing multidisciplinary content and diverse classroom needs at the elementary level, positioning formally certified teachers as contextually underprepared. The study found that professional preparedness cannot be ensured through certification alone without alignment between training design and placement context. This research contributes to teacher education by providing evidence to inform policy reform towards level-based teacher preparation and structured support after certification.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

joelt

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Other

Description

Jo-ELT (Journal of English Language Teaching) Fakultas Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris IKIP is a journal published by the Faculty of Culture, Management, and Business, Mandalika University of Education.. The journal focuses on the following topics: 1. Theory and ...