Paying attention to teachers

Teaching has long been a respected profession. But in practice many teachers lose this prestige by taking on side jobs as ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers or even as illegal lottery ticket sellers to make ends meet.

With police raids on lottery operators increasing in frequency, their number is dwindling. But that does not mean that the number of poor teachers has decreased.

Meanwhile the public debate on how to increase teachers' incomes has yet to bear fruit. The long-awaited 20 percent of the national budget earmarked for education is a long way off, and the number of teachers on low salaries is still high.

Teachers with small take-home pay have no spare money to buy good books to increase their relevant knowledge. Many do not even have enough money to subscribe to newspapers.

Some teachers are lucky enough to have regular obyekan (incidental money-making projects) at schools during office hours. While others have to do side jobs after work.

But not many teachers are willing to become ojek drivers or sellers of lottery tickets. Most use their spare time to choose safer more "socially acceptable" jobs such as private tutoring. However, many say giving private lessons to students can cause accusations of special treatment back in class. Meanwhile, the government's ability to find the best way to improve teacher welfare remains in question.

Since the regional autonomy law in 2002, the provinces have been responsible for the fate of their civil servants and state school teachers' salaries depend on the local administrations. Unfortunately, teacher welfare has generally been ignored by the regions.

It was Jakarta that became the first area to provide a monthly living incentive of Rp 1 million to each teacher last year.

Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso's move deserves respect. More surprising is the ongoing effort made by the administration to give another Rp 1 million in monthly living incentives starting next year. The administration is likely to propose Rp 17 trillion for next year's budget, or an 18 percent increase from the current budget of Rp 14.3 trillion, due to the plan.

With the improvement of teachers salaries, it is expected that less teachers will work in blue collar side jobs.

However, Sutiyoso's move will not automatically lead to improved teacher dedication and teaching quality. Experience shows that only a few teachers take their jobs for the love of teaching. Many others become teachers because they can't find any other jobs to do.

Whatever their background is, teachers should respond to the Jakarta administration's positive gesture by bettering themselves.

In big cities like Jakarta, many private elementary schools have applied new curricula, with the inclusion of English as an obligatory subject. With their limited qualifications it would be impossible for most teachers at state elementary schools to meet the standards to teach at private schools.

It is recommended then that state school teachers in Jakarta improve their professionalism for the sake of quality education. Energy levels need to be higher and horizons need to be broadened if teachers are to better serve the needs of their students.

Sutiyoso has set a good example to other provinces. The Jakarta administration's determination to improve teacher welfare should encourage other well-off provinces to do the same. It is exciting to hear that other wealthy provinces -- like East Kalimantan -- are also making steps to ensure teachers get a decent basic income.

Those provinces, meanwhile, that shirk their responsibilities will likely lose their best teachers to Jakarta where pay and conditions are higher.