Contract teachers may get promotion

PALEMBANG: South Sumatra Governor Syahrial Oesman suggested on Thursday that contract teachers who have worked for more than 10 years be automatically recruited as civil servants without having to take the traditional placement test.

"They have dedicated their lives for so long and have basically passed the age limit to apply as a civil servant. I suppose they are no longer familiar with the tests given to new would-be teachers and would be unable to compete," he said.

South Sumatra Education Department head Baijuri Asir said at least 100,000 people had taken the civil servant exam in the province this year and only 7,000 would be accepted, including teachers.

"If we do not promote these contract teachers, it would be impossible for them to improve their lives," the governor said. --Antara