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