Teacher set up federation<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Disappointed by the poor performance of the Association of
\nIndonesian Teachers (PGRI), which many consider to have acted as
\nlittle more than a collector of levies during the new order
\nregime, a group of teachers announced on Thursday the
\nestablishment of the Federation of Independent Indonesian
\nTeachers (FGII).<\/p>\n
The federation was established by nearly 100 teachers
\nrepresenting 25 teachers' organizations from Jakarta, Bandung,
\nGarut and Tasikmalaya, during a modest ceremony at the Proklamasi
\nMonument in Menteng, Central Jakarta (photo above).<\/p>\n
The ceremony started with speeches by representatives of the
\nteachers, followed by the formal declaration establishing the
\nfederation, and ended with the singing of the teachers' hymn.<\/p>\n
In its declaration, the FGII demanded that democracy and
\ntransparency be applied in education. They urged the government
\nto give legal protection to teachers and also to provide greater
\nfunding for education, amounting to at least 30 percent of the
\nstate budget. They further demanded that intervention by the
\nbureaucracy in teachers' organizations be stopped.<\/p>\n
During the ceremony, the teachers, who work in various types
\nof school ranging from kindergartens and elementary schools up to
\njunior and senior high schools, did not wear their official
\nKorpri (Indonesian Civil Service Corps) uniforms, but rather T-
\nshirts and casual clothes.<\/p>\n
They claimed that the federation was necessary as the PGRI
\ncould no longer accommodate their aspirations. The PGRI was
\nconsidered to be powerless in protesting against the misery
\nexperienced by teachers, mainly as the result of low salaries.<\/p>\n
\"As we know, the right to organize is guaranteed by the law.
\nThere is nothing wrong with the establishment of our own
\nfederation in order to advance the struggle for our aspirations,\"
\nAmir Hamzah, a teacher from the state-run SMUN senior high school
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
After the declaration, the teachers marched to the House of
\nRepresentatives' building and the Ministry of National Education
\nto press for their demands to be met. -- JP<\/p>",
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