Plan to attract academics to public service supported

JAKARTA (JP): A senior government official yesterday came out in support of a proposal to offer better incentives to holders of masters and doctorates wanting to pursue careers as teachers or civil servants.

Director General of Higher Learning Bambang Soehendro said the starting salary and positions offered to these people should be higher than they are at present.

The civil service is currently not proving attractive to those with higher degrees because they receive the same salary as graduates.

"Higher degree holders should start at a higher level than graduates, otherwise it's unfair," Bambang told reporters.

The Indonesian civil service's position and salary scale goes from Ia to IVe. A new government employee with an elementary school diploma starts at 1A with an initial monthly salary of Rp 78,000 (US$33).

Graduates and holders of higher degrees both start at IIIa with a monthly salary of Rp 150,200. Comparative starting wages in private companies are often 10 times this.

"I totally agree with the suggestion that the position of those with higher degrees who enter the civil service or teachers should be improved," Bambang said.

The suggestion to improve the position and well-being of higher degree holders entering the civil service was made by the rector of the University of Indonesia, M.K. Tadjudin, Saturday.

Tadjudin said that the low salaries offered by the government has deterred the very well qualified from joining the civil service, including pursuing a career as a teacher.

Tadjudin proposed that holders of higher degrees should start at higher levels -- IIIb for those with masters degrees and IIIc for those with doctorates -- in the government bureaucracy.

Bambang proposed that until Indonesia has the necessary regulations, higher graduates should also be given the opportunity for speedy promotion if they perform well.

"Higher degree holders' credit points may be obtained from their achievements in education and research, such as having their work published in academic journals," Bambang said.

At present, he said, many post-graduates do not conduct research. "If they do, they can get more credit points from their research," he added.

According to government regulations, civil servants, including teachers at state schools, can be promoted every two years.

Yesterday, 16 universities and 11 companies signed an agreement as part of the promotion of the link-and-match program, in which students work under an apprenticeship scheme in the firms.

Selected students will work in the companies for between one and two semesters. They will be treated just like other employees, receiving salaries or even getting fired. (31)