The educator who stood up against a regent<\/p>\n
Haidir Anwar Tanjung, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru, Riau<\/p>\n
Abdul Latif Hasyim's name made headlines recently across various
\nnational media, following massive protests by teachers and
\nstudents in Kampar regency.<\/p>\n
Thousands of demonstrators demanded the immediate resignation
\nof Kampar regent Jefri Noer, chanting Latif's name as a victim of
\nthe regent's high-handed neglect of education in the regency.<\/p>\n
Latif, 46, principal of State Senior High School II in Air
\nTritis district, has become the champion of people in Kampar for
\nhis unwavering stance on education.<\/p>\n
The enmity between the educational community, including
\nstudents, and the regional administration started on Feb. 5, when
\nthe regent invited about 100 teachers to a dialog on boosting the
\nquality of local education.<\/p>\n
The dialog took place at the Kampar regent's office and
\ninitially began as usual, with the teachers listening calmly to
\nthe advice and instructions from their governing board.<\/p>\n
In his heart, however, Latif was disappointed about many
\nissues concerning education in the regency. These accumulated
\ndisappointments led to his directness in posing questions and
\ncontributing input to the dialog. He did not necessarily limit
\nhis questions to the sphere of academia.<\/p>\n
Instead, Latif, a father of four, had questioned the miniscule
\n2004 education budget in the regency -- only 5 percent of the
\nregental budget of Rp 700 billion (US$82.3 million), not the 20
\npercent as stipulated by the Constitution.<\/p>\n
The ever decreasing education budget had been like a slowly
\ntightening noose for teachers in Kampar. In 2003, the regental
\ngovernment had allocated only 13 percent of its budget for
\neducation, but neither educators nor the people were ever given
\nany reasons for the continuing cut in the education fund.<\/p>\n
"I merely asked during the dialog why only 5 percent of the
\nbudget had been allocated toward education in Kampar, when the
\nConstitution stipulates a minimum 20 percent," he said.<\/p>\n
It was this question that provoked the regent's fury, who
\nimmediately expelled Latif from the dialog, chastising the
\nprincipal for daring to raise the education budget and speak to
\nhim on the same level.<\/p>\n
It seems the regent took offense at the gall of a mere teacher
\nwho would deign to interfere with government matters.<\/p>\n
Despite his expulsion, however, Latif resolutely remained and
\nfollowed the dialog.<\/p>\n
"I was not ready to leave, because I was invited officially to
\ngive input to the Kampar government on educational matters," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Latif's expulsion triggered an angry reaction from fellow
\ncolleagues and the people of Kampar -- and it is not the first
\ntime that the Kampar public has stood together and protested
\nJefri's arrogance.<\/p>\n
"In the beginning, those who made the call to protest were
\ncolleagues who were not at the dialog, but to whom I had related
\nthe experience. The sense of solidarity spread through the
\nacademic community and they decided to strike. I'm not a
\nprovocateur ... this is an act of solidarity by teachers and
\nstudents," Latif told The Jakarta Post at home in Bangkinang,
\nabout 60 kilometers west of Pekanbaru.<\/p>\n
Latif said Jefri had taken little notice of education during
\nhis term, and in the past year alone, had replaced the Education
\nand Sports office head three times.<\/p>\n
The regent's arbitrary policies were like a time bomb set to
\nexplode any time.<\/p>\n
In the past two years, for example, Latif's senior high school
\nhad never received any funds for educational development,
\nalthough he had submitted several requests for additional
\nclassrooms. The requests were denied, citing a lack of funds.<\/p>\n
"If the Kampar government doesn't care about our education,
\nwhat would become of our pupils?" he said.<\/p>\n
It is clear that Latif is a man who speaks from the heart, and
\nwhile he had the courage to voice his conscience against the
\nunfair budgetary policy, he denies that he has any skill in
\npolitics or oration, and continues to decline requests from
\nfellow teachers and students to speak to the people.<\/p>\n
"Even now, I really don't want to speak in front of the masses
\nbecause I have no talents as an orator, nor do I have any
\npolitical skill. I'm just a teacher...," he said.<\/p>\n
His honesty and integrity is evident in the numerous
\nachievements he has made throughout his career in education.<\/p>\n
A 1984 University of Riau graduate with a major in education,
\nhe was given the best student national award in the midst of his
\nstudies in 1983.<\/p>\n
After graduating, he got a post at Ranai State Senior High
\nSchool I on remote Natuna Island, Riau province, where he taught
\nfor four years. He then got a teaching post at Bangkinang Senior
\nHigh School II.<\/p>\n
His dedication to teaching and education was acknowledged on
\nAug. 11, 1992 -- which remains the most memorable day in his life
\n-- when he was bestowed an exemplary teacher national award,
\nsigned by then-minister of education and culture Prof. Fuad
\nHassan.<\/p>\n
Tow days later on Aug. 15, he received a similar award
\nbestowed upon him by former first lady, Madam Tien Soeharto.<\/p>\n
"In 1997, I was appointed principal of Air Tiris State Senior
\nHigh School, where I still am," he said.<\/p>\n
But these were just the tip of the iceberg -- in mid-1997,
\nalong with five other national exemplary teachers, he was part of
\nthe Indonesian delegation sent to Japan to conduct a one-month
\ncomparative study on educational systems and curricula.<\/p>\n
"In November 2002, I was again entrusted by the Indonesian
\ngovernment to take part in another comparative study, this time
\nin Canada, where I studied education management for a month," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Latif does not excel only in the field of education, but he is
\nalso a noted calligrapher. He taught himself the high art, and
\nworks on it during his spare time, even finding the time to give
\nextracurricular calligraphy lessons to students.<\/p>\n
His work of embossed Arabic calligraphy painted on canvas,
\nwhich he calls three-dimensional calligraphy, earned him first
\nplace in a national calligraphy competition.<\/p>\n
His calligraphy has also been exhibited in Kuala Lumpur,
\nMalaysia, while in Riau, many of his donated works adorn the
\nwalls of several mosques.<\/p>\n
Latif's largest calligraphic masterpiece hangs in his home and
\nmeasures 75 cm x 75 cm.<\/p>\n
He tells a short anecdote of how former president BJ Habibie
\noffered Rp 46 million for the painting during an exhibition in
\nBatam.<\/p>\n
"I couldn't sell it -- even when Pak Habibie offered such a
\nfortune," he said.<\/p>",
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