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)