Incentives for teachers

From Kompas

With the official onset of a five-day work week on Oct. 1 this year, all civil servants, except teachers, will be enjoying two days off every weekend. In other words, civil servants will only work 22 days in a month, or 73 percent of the total month, while teachers must toil 26 days in the same period (87 percent).

A lot can be gained from the present five-day work system, like savings on transportation and on luncheon costs. Not to mention the immaterial advantages, such as longer rests, more time for personal activities and more time to spend with the family.

It is true that the working hours of teachers depend a great deal on the quarterly curriculum, but it should be noted that a teacher is still working after school hours. Teachers have to prepare their lessons for the following day, they have to check the work of students, prepare homework and exercises. All of this takes up most of the time other people would be able to allot for their families.

In my opinion, it is quite justified to give teachers special incentives, like overtime payments for a workload that is 12 percent heavier than that of other civil servants. In allowing them the additional incentives for four workdays every month, it is hoped that teachers will be able to pay more serious attention to the making the nation's educational teaching function.

We hope that government will pay attention to the gap caused by the recent change, in order to preserve the teaching system for Indonesian children whose teachers play an important role.

SUPRAPTO YUDOWIDIGDO

Jakarta