Lack of lecturers, poor remuneration

Lack of lecturers, poor remuneration

I wish to reply to the article Govt laments lack of lecturers
in The Jakarta Post of Sept. 4, 2002.

Minister of National Education Malik Fajar is correct in his
statement, "Only half of the lecturers in state universities hold
either masters degrees or doctorates, and it is worse in private
universities." The point he was trying to make was that the
government needed more funds! The question is, "Do they require
more funds or do the universities?" Could it be that the
universities require better organization?

A university appointing a lecturer should advertise in
newspapers and universities worldwide. This is to attract the
best applicant to lecture at a high level equal to that of other
universities, or even higher. For the university to achieve this
it needs to offer the applicant equal remuneration or higher.

When a university achieves this level of excellence, it
becomes world renowned (acclaimed) and usually has students from
all over the world competing for entry. This is an achievement
that all universities should aim for and is big business, thus
generating the funds required for the university.

I have lectured in the S. A. university. (O'Halloranhill
campus) Adelaide, South Australia, in the subjects of
architecture/engineering and geo-science, and hold a Ph D in
Physics (biochem). I made an offer to lecture at several
universities in Jakarta. When discussing remuneration I quote the
rate I was being paid in Australia, and am usually met with an
immediate rejection.

It seems that this could be the problem -- professionalized
services, which the universities lack. This will need to change
before your universities can accommodate and foster lecturers
with masters degrees and doctorates, thus solving the Minister of
National Education's problem, and improving the standard of
education in Indonesian universities.

PROF. DR. C.J. BOWMAN

Adelaide, South Australia