Soeharto calls for respect for teachers

Soeharto calls for respect for teachers

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto appealed yesterday to the
nation, especially students at schools and universities, to show
the highest respect toward teachers.

There is a tendency among some members of society to be
disrespectful to teachers, Soeharto said at a ceremony marking
National Teachers Day.

"On this happy occasion, I'd like to appeal to all of us --
particularly students -- to go back to our rooted tradition of
giving the highest respect to teachers," he said in the ceremony
at Senayan Sports Hall.

The nation's tradition places teachers in the highest echelon
of society along with religious leaders and intellectuals, he
said.

"They (teachers) are the torch that lights up civilization,"
he said to the thousands of teachers at the ceremony.

National Teachers Day coincided with the anniversary of the
Indonesian Teachers Union (PGRI) which turned 51 yesterday.

The ceremony was also held to mark International Teachers Day
which fell on Oct. 5, organizers said.

Teaching, once regarded a noble and highly sought after
profession, has become one of the lowest paid jobs in Indonesia.
A PGRI official who has been a teacher for 40 years said in an
RCTI interview on Tuesday that her monthly salary comes to Rp
400,000.

While Indonesia has succeeded in promoting universal education
through compulsory education programs and building more schools,
the welfare of teachers appears to have trailed behind the
nation's economic development.

More recently, stories abound about school students harassing
and attacking their teachers.

President Soeharto underscored the role teachers play in the
future of the nation, stressing that education is the key to a
strong and independent nation.

"A good national education system depends not only on the
presence of facilities and infrastructure, but more importantly
on a pool of qualified teachers.

"Education needs massive funding and that is why the national
education budget has been increased from year to year.

"We are all resolved to continue strengthening the welfare of
teachers, especially those who dedicate their lives to working in
remote areas," Soeharto said.

The President said the contribution teachers gave to society
before and after Indonesia's independence in 1945 made them
"fighters".

"Teachers are heroes without medals.

"Their spirit, candor, and tireless dedication have now born
fruit, a new generation with better education background,
intelligence and health," Soeharto said. (emb)