Increase of teachers' pay

Increase of teachers' pay

From Pikiran Rakyat

It may be excessive of me to thank the government of President
Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri for
the increase in my salary and functional allowance, effective
April 3, 2000.

The increase is below our expectations, but we know the
government is experiencing a great number of difficulties.
Therefore we all understand the government's plan to increase
civil servants' salaries in two stages.

The above does not mean that I do not support the
demonstrations by my colleagues, especially those in West Java.
The action to demand justice launched by the Indonesian Teachers
Action Forum and the Committee of Struggle for the Betterment of
Teachers Welfare has boosted my pride as a teacher.

In this era of reform, we no longer want to be made objects of
polemic which never results in firm steps to improve the lives of
teachers.

I think the justice demanded by the teachers is positive and
must be seriously responded to by the government. Currently the
community faces many serious problems, so the sizable increase in
the structural allowances of high-ranking officials is a
contradiction.

The officials in the executive and legislative branches
receiving the increases should also be willing to lead a life of
concern, although to a different extent.

In these difficult times the people have high hopes the
officials in the executive and legislative branches and the
bureaucracy will become fighters, and not the other way around.
Thus, the people's hopes for the enforcement of law and justice,
so loudly proclaimed during the election campaign, will be
realized more quickly. This is to avoid further lies that keep
the people ignorant.

The justice demanded by teachers also reflects the people's
will. I think, however, that we should not exaggerate the
socialization of democracy. It means that with the increase in
teachers' salaries and functional allowances, which is relatively
insufficient, we are also required to remain consistent in the
spirit of reform that has claimed so many victims.

In short, I will never oppose the injustice now taking place.
On the other hand, we must maintain the fighting spirit of
teachers as best as we can.

IWAN INTISARIWAN P.

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