'Better pay would ensure more professional teachers'

'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