Educational expert questions teachers' professionalism

Educational expert questions teachers' professionalism

JAKARTA (JP): Amid persistent demand for an increase in
teachers' salaries, an education observer calls on the teachers
to improve their professionalism.

"There are only a few teachers who have competency in
teaching. Competent means they know for sure what to do, why they
do it, and how to do their job well," Winarno Surakhmad, a former
education ministry official, told a seminar on teachers' pay on
Thursday.

He attributed the lack of competency to the failure of
educational institutions to produce qualified teachers.

"The institutions have never been able to educate their
students on how to be professional. Many teachers don't even know
what professionalism really is," he said.

The conversion of teachers training institutes into
universities also fails to solve the long-standing problem.

"Why bother to change the name? More important is the
substance of the teaching method, and the institutions do not
provide it," Winarno said.

The career planning system developed by the government also
contributes to the lack of teachers' professionalism, according
to Winarno. Specifically, he said the system of promotion and
salary administration for teachers is based only on their length
of service, instead of their merits.

"A teacher who has taught for 20 years means he has gotten 20
years older but not necessarily wiser," he said.

This, he said, does not motivate teachers to improve their
professionalism and teaching ability.

The Ministry of National Education secretary-general, Hidayat
Syarif, agreed with Winarno, saying the complicated procedures of
promotion for teachers has discouraged teachers from reaching new
levels.

"If the procedure is not that complex, I'm sure teachers will
be more dedicated," he told reporters on the side.

Both Winarno and Hidayat were of the opinion that teachers
deserve better pay.

"But money alone doesn't solve the problem. More important are
the human resources. If the government raises salaries, will our
educational system be better? Will the teachers be more
professional? That's what the government should consider," said
Winarno.

Hidayat thinks teachers are in need of more than just money.

"Money is important, but I think the teachers demand more
appreciation like teaching facilities and less complicated
procedures for promotion," he said. (09)