Teachers demand more than just pay hike<\/p>\n
Sari P. Setiogi and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesian teachers marked the 36th anniversary of their
\norganization on Thursday with a demand for President Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono's administration to pay more respect to their
\nachievements.<\/p>\n
Siti Aisah of Cempaka High School in Central Jakarta suggested
\nthat the government should stop presenting medals to performing
\nteachers, saying it contributes little to their efforts in
\nraising educational standards.<\/p>\n
Siti, one of 133 teachers who won Citibank funds to develop a
\ncreative learning method recently, said she would prefer full
\nscholarships to government awards.<\/p>\n
\"We need to improve our knowledge, we need to keep learning.
\nMost of the scholarships are only partial, and that forces us to
\nfind ways to cover the rest ourselves. It makes us unable to
\nconcentrate fully on our study,\" Siti told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The quality of teachers has become a major concern as the
\ncountry is trying to boost the standard of national education.<\/p>\n
Another teacher, St. Isrin L. Chandra of Purnama High School
\nin South Jakarta, said the government had not provided teachers
\nwith opportunities to advance their knowledge and enrich their
\ncareers.<\/p>\n
\"Teachers should be given more opportunities to raise their
\nstructural promotion level. The bureaucracy is too complicated,\"
\nsaid Isrin, who has remained a temporary civil servant despite
\nhaving taught students for 19 years.<\/p>\n
Unlike Siti, Isrin won the Citibank innovation fund last year.<\/p>\n
Isrin suggested that the government open more opportunities
\nfor teachers to study abroad and have their minds opened to other
\nteaching systems.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that teachers' financial welfare remained a
\nmajor concern throughout the country. Taking his own experience
\nan example, he said he received his salary every three to six
\nmonths.<\/p>\n
The teachers' concerns came as the President commemorated the
\nanniversary of the Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI) with
\nhundreds of teachers from across the country at the Bung Karno
\nsports complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
In his speech, Susilo asked Minister of National Education and
\nregional administrations to undertake measures in an attempt to
\nimprove teachers welfare.<\/p>\n
Underlining the fact that most teachers lived below the
\npoverty line, Susilo said breakthrough policies from regional
\nadministrations were needed to raise the salary of teachers,
\nparticularly those who serve in conflict-prone and remote areas.<\/p>\n
\"We all know that the teachers' welfare has a correlation with
\nthe quality of our education,\" the President said.<\/p>\n
However, the President failed to promise an increase in
\ngovernment spending on teachers salaries.<\/p>\n
The 1945 Constitution states that the education budget must
\naccount for at least 20 percent of the total state budget. But
\nthe government admitted it could not afford to meet this
\nrequirement immediately.<\/p>\n
At one point, Susilo interrupted his speech when he saw some
\nteachers talking to each other, falling asleep or leaving the
\nvenue.<\/p>\n
\"Teachers, I expect you to listen to my speech,\" he paused for
\na few minutes before continuing.<\/p>\n
The celebration also coincided with the national campaign to
\npromote teaching as a profession.<\/p>\n
During the celebration, Susilo awarded five governors and 10
\nregents for their achievements in fighting illiteracy in their
\nrespective areas. The President also awarded Satya Lencana Karya
\nSatya medals to five teachers for service of between 20 to 30
\nyears.<\/p>",
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