Minahasa teachers on strike over salary hike

MANADO, North Sulawesi (JP): Children attending schools in Minahasa regency, North Sulawesi, received no lessons on Friday and Saturday as thousands of teachers in the area went on strike for having received no rise in their salaries since January 2001.

The kindergarten, primary and secondary school teachers said they would continue their strike until the local administration met their demands for higher salaries.

Decky Mamalu, a Langowan state high school teacher who was speaking on behalf of his colleagues, told The Jakarta Post in Minahasa that a salary hike which was supposed to have entered into effect in January had still not been paid.

The Minahasa teachers also demanded that the local administration return responsibility for the payment of teachers' salaries to the central government.

The demand, made in writing, was also addressed to the relevant agencies in the North Sulawesi provincial administration and the central government, as the regency authorities had given no response to the teachers' grievances.

"We don't intend to neglect our pupils but we simply have to meet out daily needs and assert our rights," Decky argued, adding that teachers in Manado, Bitung and Bolaang Mangondow had received the salary increase.

The strike, according to Decky, was organized by the Kindergarten, Elementary and High School Principals of Minahasa Consultative Body.

Asked to confirm the delayed salary hike, head of the province's national education office Dirk P. Togas told The Jakarta Post in Manado that the payment of teachers' salaries came under regency authority, except for teachers in high schools.

However, he said his office was coordinating with the regency authorities to resolve the dispute.

"I have visited Minahasa to carry out inspections and seek a solution to this issue, which hopefully can be resolved within a few days," he said.

Minahasa Regent Dolfy Tanor was unavailable for comment. (48)