Part-time teachers demand appointment

JAKARTA (JP): Some 700 part-time teachers questioned on Thursday why they were denied status as civil servants after years of teaching at various public schools in Central Jakarta, a city official said.

Giat Suwarno, head of the Jakarta chapter of the National Education Department, said at a meeting, which discussed the city's annual working program, that those teachers were hired because of an insufficient number of teachers in Central Jakarta.

Giat said the teachers had worked for the Central Jakarta public school system for many years, with some having taught for 25 years. "They had high hopes that they would be appointed as civil servants," he added.

He said their promotion should be be given first priority in the city administration's plan to promote new teachers in its bid to gain regional autonomy.

"With the promotion, they will earn more and be entitled to pension," he said, noting that the current salaries of part- timers depended on the meager education funds allocated to each respective school. (06)