Indonesia has enough teachers: Legislators<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Many legislators criticized the Indonesian
\nTeachers Union (PGRI) yesterday for routine complaints that the
\nnation has a shortage of teachers when, they claim, there are
\nsufficient numbers.<\/p>\n
During a hearing with the union's leaders, several members of
\nthe House of Representatives' Commission IX said the problem lies
\nin the poor distribution of teachers across the nation, with some
\nparts having too many teachers and others having too few.<\/p>\n
Increasing the number of teachers won't solve the problem, the
\nlegislators told the PGRI leaders.<\/p>\n
\"If their numbers were cut down and their overall organization
\nrearranged, there would be no lack of teachers in the country,\"
\nsaid Zarkasih Nur of Commission IX which oversees education.<\/p>\n
Zarkasih then cited the more pressing problem of teacher
\nwelfare and the low salaries they continue to receive.<\/p>\n
Many teachers spend a large amount of their time moonlighting
\njust to make ends meet and therefore cannot fully concentrate on
\ntheir job of teaching, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Is it true that this country doesn't have enough teachers?
\nSome regions have this complaint, but others have enough -- if
\nnot an oversupply -- of them,\" he said.<\/p>\n
PGRI, where membership is strictly voluntary, has recruited
\nabout 1.4 million of the country's total of 1.7 million teachers.<\/p>\n
The 50-year-old union has been widely criticized from within
\nand outside for its failure to improve the condition and welfare
\nof its members. Many put the blame on its current leader, Basyuni
\nSuriamiharja, who has held the post for 16 years.<\/p>\n
Basyuni in his opening remarks at the hearing yesterday raised
\nthe question of a teacher shortage. He acknowledged that some
\nareas may appear to have enough teachers, but he then brought up
\nthe serious problem of not enough qualified teachers.<\/p>\n
Indonesia needs more teachers for subjects such as mathematics
\nand science, he said.<\/p>\n
Sukowaluyo Mintorahardjo, a legislator from the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI) faction, suggested that the union, through
\nthe House, could propose a special directorate devoted entirely
\nto looking after the interests of teachers.<\/p>\n
This directorate could deal with all problems related to the
\nprofession, including their numbers, their distribution across
\nthe country, their quality and training and recruitment,
\nSukowaluyo said.<\/p>\n
\"Because of their poor salaries and welfare, teachers are
\nlosing the respect the profession ought to command in society. I
\nthink we need to redefine their status if we want them to have
\ntheir dignity back like in the old days.\"<\/p>\n
Zarkasih said the union leaders should fight harder to improve
\nthe welfare of their members. \"PGRI should be bolder than it has
\nbeen in the past.\" (pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-has-enough-teachers-legislators-1447893297",
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