Thousands of teachers unpaid for three months<\/p>\n
Nana Rukmana and Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Majalengka\/Banyumas<\/p>\n
Thousands of teachers temporarily employed by the governments in
\nWest Java and Central Java have not been paid for the last three
\nmonths.<\/p>\n
An administrative problem was blamed for the payment delay.<\/p>\n
Around 1,617 temporary teachers in Majalengka regency, West
\nJava, should have each been paid Rp 460,000 per month since June.<\/p>\n
At least 1,166 others in Banyumas regency, Central Java, also
\nfaced a similar fate. They expressed concern.<\/p>\n
Many of them admitted they had to borrow money from neighbors
\nand others to cover the living costs of their families.<\/p>\n
"I am ashamed with my neighbors and fellow contract teachers
\nat private schools. They call me a stupid man who keeps silent
\ndespite being unpaid," said Ahmad, 35, one of the teachers in
\nBanyumas.<\/p>\n
Head of the Majalengka education office Karna Sobahi said the
\nteachers were not paid because the local regent did not sign a
\ndecree on their appointments, even though they have been working
\nsince June.<\/p>\n
Majalengka Regent Tutty Hayati Anwar did not spell out reasons
\nwhy she postponed the signing, but advised the teachers to remain
\npatient.<\/p>\n
Karna promised the local government would reimburse the funds
\nfrom Majalengka's budget to pay the teachers' salaries as soon as
\ntheir appointment decrees were signed by the regent.<\/p>\n
"We will certainly pay all their salaries. We are seeking to
\nhave the decrees issued immediately," he said.<\/p>\n
They were among thousands of teachers hired in May by the
\ncentral government on a three-year contract basis in an effort to
\naddress teacher shortages across the country. Their contract can
\nbe extended after three years.<\/p>\n
The teachers had been distributed to elementary and junior
\nhigh schools in their respective regions.<\/p>\n
In Majalengka, the teachers were deployed to schools in 29
\nsubdistricts.<\/p>\n
Teti Sukmawati, another teacher in Majalengka, said she and
\nher colleagues had many times urged the local administration to
\nimmediately pay their salaries but had been ignored.<\/p>\n
"I and other teachers have frequently come to the regent's
\noffice and the education office head to ask for an explanation
\nabout the payment delay. But they (the officials) told us to
\nremain patient," she said.<\/p>\n
"We have been waiting for three months since we passed the
\ntest and began working in June, but have not been paid yet.<\/p>\n
"If it continues to happen, how can I afford to make a living
\nfor my wife and children," said Yudiman, 32, another teacher at
\nan elementary school in Banyumas.<\/p>\n
Head of the Banyumas education office Sutjipto said that the
\npayment delay was due to the "administrative process" in the
\nlocal administration.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/thousands-of-teachers-unpaid-for-three-months-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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