Proposed Human Capital Management Strategy to Improve Elementary School Teachers’ Competencies in Rahuning, North Sumatra, Indonesia (Case Study of SDIT Ar-Rahmah)

The issue of low teacher competence in Indonesian schools outside of the big cities requires solutions from the outside and inside of the school. From within the organization, Human Capital Management (HCM) provides a beneficial framework for improving teachers’ competence and overall school quality. This study aims to understand the low competency issues and the HCM system in Ar-Rahmah Rahuning Integrated Islamic Elementary School (SDIT Ar-Rahmah) and formulates competency development programs using Lifelong Learning (LLL) approach. In this mixed method research, a survey conducted on teachers’ competency in SDIT Ar-Rahmah using the Teacher’s Competence model outlined by the Director General of Teachers and Education Personnel in 2023 to evaluate four teacher’s primary competence (pedagogic, personal, social, and professional competence), followed by a qualitative study on the HCM system, focusing on the competency development program. The study reveals that the average teachers in SDIT Ar-Rahmah indicate the need to improve pedagogic and social competence. Further, the HCM system in SDIT Ar-Rahmah lacks Professional Development and Performance Management for its teachers. The HCM system is highly reliant on the School Principal, which causes issues in developing Professional Development and Performance Management. A competency development program is formulated using Lifelong Learning approach to ensure continuous improvement throughout the teachers’ employment. The program focuses on six key elements: 1) formal and nonformal education, 2) introspection and self-assessment, 3) self-motivated learning, 4) application of knowledge and skills, 5) evaluation and improvement steps, and 6) provision of facilities and tools that foster Lifelong Learning habits.