Indonesia has enough teachers: Legislators

Indonesia has enough teachers: Legislators

JAKARTA (JP): Many legislators criticized the Indonesian
Teachers Union (PGRI) yesterday for routine complaints that the
nation has a shortage of teachers when, they claim, there are
sufficient numbers.

During a hearing with the union's leaders, several members of
the House of Representatives' Commission IX said the problem lies
in the poor distribution of teachers across the nation, with some
parts having too many teachers and others having too few.

Increasing the number of teachers won't solve the problem, the
legislators told the PGRI leaders.

"If their numbers were cut down and their overall organization
rearranged, there would be no lack of teachers in the country,"
said Zarkasih Nur of Commission IX which oversees education.

Zarkasih then cited the more pressing problem of teacher
welfare and the low salaries they continue to receive.

Many teachers spend a large amount of their time moonlighting
just to make ends meet and therefore cannot fully concentrate on
their job of teaching, he said.

"Is it true that this country doesn't have enough teachers?
Some regions have this complaint, but others have enough -- if
not an oversupply -- of them," he said.

PGRI, where membership is strictly voluntary, has recruited
about 1.4 million of the country's total of 1.7 million teachers.

The 50-year-old union has been widely criticized from within
and outside for its failure to improve the condition and welfare
of its members. Many put the blame on its current leader, Basyuni
Suriamiharja, who has held the post for 16 years.

Basyuni in his opening remarks at the hearing yesterday raised
the question of a teacher shortage. He acknowledged that some
areas may appear to have enough teachers, but he then brought up
the serious problem of not enough qualified teachers.

Indonesia needs more teachers for subjects such as mathematics
and science, he said.

Sukowaluyo Mintorahardjo, a legislator from the Indonesian
Democratic Party (PDI) faction, suggested that the union, through
the House, could propose a special directorate devoted entirely
to looking after the interests of teachers.

This directorate could deal with all problems related to the
profession, including their numbers, their distribution across
the country, their quality and training and recruitment,
Sukowaluyo said.

"Because of their poor salaries and welfare, teachers are
losing the respect the profession ought to command in society. I
think we need to redefine their status if we want them to have
their dignity back like in the old days."

Zarkasih said the union leaders should fight harder to improve
the welfare of their members. "PGRI should be bolder than it has
been in the past." (pwn)