Fate of elementary school teachers

Fate of elementary school teachers

From Warta Kota

Most people probably remember the demonstrations by teachers
throughout Indonesia earlier this year. Their aspirations and
goals were that their welfare be improved.

As we know, teachers' incomes do not comply at all with daily
needs. On top of this, there is still a cutting of their income
which further constricts their budgets.

It is known that every teacher and civil servant receives a
rice allowance, but they only receive 45 kg, because it is cut by
the Indonesian Teachers' Association (PGRI) Cooperative
Management. Fortunately, since the reform the 50 kg rice
allowance has been replaced with money of about Rp 120,000. This
has been in effect since April, 2000.

In addition, the government has promised to hike teachers'
salaries by 300 percent, but it turns out only the functional
allowance was given. This deviates very much from the commitment.

Factually, the teachers only want a basic salary hike of 100
percent, nothing else. But in my opinion if teachers' welfare is
continually neglected, and they have to overcome themselves their
welfare problem, their spirit for teaching might decline. They
will place more emphasize on their side jobs to meet their daily
needs.

Now prices of basic commodities are going up among other
things because the government has bragged about the teachers'
salary hike. But up to now teachers' salaries remain unchanged.
How can education in Indonesia be improved if teachers' fates are
of no concern?

KARTIKA MARISKHANA

Jakarta