TEACHER WELFARE: THE KEY TO EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN THE PROFESSION AT THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (PAUD) LEVEL

Abstract

: The welfare of Early Childhood Education (PAUD) teachers is the main foundation in ensuring the sustainability of the profession as well as the quality of early childhood education. In the context of education, teachers not only play the role of teachers, but also facilitators of children's psychological, emotional, and cognitive development. The welfare of teachers in Indonesia still faces serious challenges, especially related to low incomes, high workloads, and lack of institutional support. This research uses a qualitative approach based on literature studies. A total of 10 scientific articles from accredited national and international journals were selected through validation that assessed public access, methodological quality, relevance of studies, and novelty of reference sources in the last five years. Then, the data was selected using national journal sources, with a focus on teacher welfare, communication between teachers and children, and commitment to maintaining the profession. The results of the study show that the welfare of PAUD teachers includes emotional, psychological, physical, and professional aspects that are interrelated. The dominant factors that affect are the low salaries of honorary teachers, the high risk of burnout, and the ineffective welfare policy. This study concludes that the welfare of teachers cannot be seen as just a personal need, but a strategic investment for the sustainability of early childhood education in Indonesia.