Govt appoints 300,000 teachers

JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri has signed a decree appointing 300,000 new teachers as part of efforts to improve education in the country.

Megawati announced the decree after receiving outstanding teachers, village heads, district heads, forest rangers and agricultural instructors on Saturday at the State Palace.

In her off-the-cuff speech before the gathering, Megawati said the government would continue to improve the welfare and living standards of around two million teachers in the country.

The education ministry has set a target of recruiting 500,000 teachers over the next five years to accommodate the growing number of students. -- Antara