Irian Jaya needs 7,000 teachers

Irian Jaya needs 7,000 teachers

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Irian Jaya still needs some 7,000
elementary school teachers, JP. Letsoin, the head of the local
education office, said here.

Letsoin told The Jakarta Post numerous elementary schools in
isolated villages had no teachers, while others had only one or
two teachers.

To resolve the problem, the local administration has decided
to reestablish the Teacher Education Program. He said the program
would be established in each regency in the province.

"By establishing the program in each regency, local students
can be accepted and they in turn can be sent to teach their
brothers in their respective villages," Letsoin explained.

Due to the grave need for teachers, Letsoin said it had been
agreed that junior high school graduates who were willing to
teach at the elementary school level could be accepted in the
program.

These would-be teachers will then take part in a five-part
program. The first part will take place in Timika, Mimika
regency, later this year.(eba)