Background: Despite extensive research highlighting the effectiveness of teachinglearning process in elementary schools, many studies emphasize the need for greater efforts to improve the quality of teaching—particularly after teachers completing the certification programs. Objective: The purpose of this study is to characterize how principals of primary schools in Southern Papua, Indonesia, perceive the influence of the teacher certification program on raising the caliber of instruction. Method: A quantitative research approach was employed, using a survey design to collect data from 75 elementary school principals in the region. Obtained data were subjected to the statistical analysis using descriptive quantitative analysis technique by calculating Findings: Descriptive quantitative analysis revealed that the majority of principals held negative perceptions of the program’s impact on improving teaching quality. Implication for Practice and Research: These findings may be valuable for the Indonesian government in reassessing the effectiveness of the teacher certification program and exploring alternative strategies to enhance teacher professionalism—ensuring that students’ rights to quality education are fully realized.