Teachers told to upload idealism<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Minister of National Education Abdul Malik Fajar criticized the
\ncountry's teachers on Tuesday for demanding that the government
\nissue rulings that would help improve their welfare.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a seminar marking the launching of a national
\ncampaign titled Education for All here on Tuesday, Malik said
\nbeing a teacher was a calling that required dedication and
\nsacrifice.<\/p>\n
\"Your duty as a teacher is to serve the public and PGRI is
\ndesigned to build teacher professionalism, not a place to seek
\nfacilities,\" said Malik referring to the Association of
\nIndonesian Teachers (PGRI).<\/p>\n
Minister Malik was responding to the demands by Indonesian
\nteachers, aired by the PGRI leadership, that the government pay
\ngreater attention to their welfare.<\/p>\n
\"Teachers should be secured physically and financially in
\ntransferring knowledge to students,\" said PGRI chairman W.D.F.
\nRindorindo in the same seminar.<\/p>\n
According to Rindorindo, most teachers throughout the country
\nreceived unreasonably low salaries.<\/p>\n
\"Some kindergarten teachers in remote areas get paid Rp 50,000
\n(about US$5) per month,\" Rindorindo said without elaborating.<\/p>\n
However Malik emphasized that becoming a teacher was a
\nprofession inspired by idealism, and that could not be expressed
\nin monetary terms.<\/p>\n
\"So, don't become a teacher if you have no idealism,\" Malik
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The Education for All campaign was initiated by teachers
\nbelonging to the PGRI and its aim was to remind the government of
\nits commitment to provide education for all people regardless
\ntheir gender, ability, race, religion or social background.<\/p>\n
Rindorindo highlighted the role of teachers as the
\ngovernment's partner in developing the country.<\/p>\n
\"Without qualified teachers, there will be no qualified human
\nresources, which means no development in the country,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Rindorindo also called on the government to enact a law on
\nteacher protection as more and more teachers in some areas
\nreceive physical abuse from students or parents.<\/p>\n
\"We need a law for teachers to regulate teachers' technical
\nwork and welfare, including their career development and
\nremuneration,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also said the government should increase its budget for
\neducation by up to 25 percent of the country's development
\nbudget.<\/p>\n
\"Currently we just get 3.6 percent from the development budget
\nwhile other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
\nallocate at least 20 percent of their respective budgets,\"
\nRindorindo said.<\/p>\n
The association, according to Rindorindo, would ask the
\ngovernment to pay attention to the education sector especially
\nafter the implementation of regional autonomy on January 1, 2001.<\/p>\n
\"The regions now are powerful. We are afraid the regional
\nadministrations will make policies that could harm education
\nprograms,\" said Rindorindo, adding that PGRI should be involved
\nin drafting educational policies that would apply nationwide.<\/p>\n
\"PGRI is a trade union. We will the methods available to us to
\nexpress our opinion: Either negotiation, demonstration or
\nstrike,\" he warned.<\/p>\n
According to Rindorindo, Indonesian teachers were already
\ntired of praises and comforting words.<\/p>\n
\"We need to be appreciated in ways other than just praise. We
\nhave heard a lot of praise but we don't get appropriate financial
\nremuneration,\" he said, adding that the association would meet
\nwith members of the House of Representatives and the Education
\nMinister on May 2 to show the teachers' concern over the national
\neducation condition and the welfare of teachers throughout the
\ncountry.<\/p>",
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