Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menemukan masalah mendasar yang menyebabkan uji kompetensi guru rendah beradasarkan berpikir sistem (system thinking) sehingga masalah mendasar tersebut dapat menjadi daya ungkit dalam penyelesaian masalah rendahnya kompetensi mutu dan kompetensi guru di Aceh. Pendekatan Kualitatif digunakan dalam penelitian ini, subjek penelitian terdiri dari guru Sekolah Dasar di Banda Aceh yang dipilih secara random, kepala sekolah dan dinas pendidikan kota. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara, dan studi dokumentasi serta kajian literatur Neraca Pendidikan Daerah (NPD) dari tahun 2015 –2017, di hubungkan dengan beberapa hasil penelitian dan pernyataan tokoh-tokoh pendidikan serta pemerintah terkait masalah Uji Kompetensi Guru. Analisis dimulai dari data reduction, data display, dan conclusion drawing/verification, hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa terdapat tiga pilar dalam berpikir sistem sebagai daya ungkit dalam permasalahan rendahnya mutu dan kompetensi guru yaitu reinforcing berkaitan dengan peningkatan kapabilitas guru, balancing berkaitan dengan perubahan sistem proses rekruitmen guru, dan delaying berkaitan dengan politik dan politisasi pendidikan. Improving teacher competence based on system thinkingAbstractThis study aims to find a fundamental problem that causes low teacher competency test based on system thinking so that the fundamental problem can be a leverage in solving the problem of low-quality competency and teacher competency in Aceh. The Qualitative approach was used in this study, the research subjects consisted of randomly selected elementary school teachers in Banda Aceh, the head of the school and the city education office. Data were collected through interviews, and documentation studies as well as a literature review of the Regional Education Balance (NPD) from 2015-2017, linked to several research results and statements from education and government figures regarding the issue of Teacher Competency Test. The analysis starts from data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing/verification, the results of the study show that there are three pillars in system thinking as leverage in the problem of low quality and teacher competency, namely reinforcing with regard to increasing teacher capabilities, balancing in relation to changes in the recruitment system teacher, and delaying with regard to politics and the politicization of education.