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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