'Better pay would ensure more professional teachers'

The country will commemorate Teacher's Day for the first time on Nov. 25. Teachers have a vital role in building the nation but are poorly paid and their welfare has long been neglected. The Jakarta Post interviewed some Jakartans on what they thought the government should do to improve the quality of teachers.

Ganang Dwi Kartika, 40, teaches at the University of Indonesia's Faculty of Humanities. He lives in Bojonggede, Bogor:

If we all agree that the role of the teacher is important in determining the future competitiveness of our nation, then to ask teachers to be professional in their job while disregarding their economic needs is inhuman and irresponsible.

It's true that improving a teacher's welfare does not automatically mean he will be successful as a teacher, but by letting them use up all their energy only to struggle to make ends meet means they will not focus on their main task of teaching.

Only when a teacher can live comfortably, can we expect him or her to be professional.

Eva Latifah, 28, is a lecturer at the University of Indonesia's Faculty of Humanities. She lives in Beji, Depok:

I believe professionalism comes with welfare. Sufficient welfare means that teachers are no longer worried about where their next meal will come from. When teachers minds are at ease about their welfare, they will have more concern about the quality of their teaching.

In developed countries, the well-paid teachers focus more on how to improve the quality of their lessons, which of course will be of benefit to the students. If the teachers are not professional, parents can sue them.

But with the poor financial condition of our teachers, how could we demand that they be professional?

-- The Jakarta Post