Teacher in Irian Jaya

Teacher in Irian Jaya

From Kompas

I am a teacher at the Junior Agricultural Vocational School in Nabire, Irian Jaya. Although I had worked as a full-time public servant since 1989, I was only eligible to request for a promotion to a higher rank, along with other teachers, in 1994. The unfortunate thing was that the promotion decrees for my colleagues were issued, but nothing happened with my proposal. I tried to investigate the problem, and even went to the Institute of State Personnel Administration in Jakarta, but all my efforts were to no avail. This was simply because I did not know any "insider" at the office. Furthermore, I couldn't get in touch with the right staff member who could lend me a hand and give the precise information.

Finally, I wrote to P.O. Box 8000, and got the answer. They said my proposal could not be considered because there was an incongruence concerning the statement of my credit points. I accepted the shortcoming, but what surprised me was the fact that it took two years to return my documents.

A new proposal was sent to the institute by the provincial Office of Education and Culture in Paniai. I was told to wait for the issuance of the promotion decree. But until now, the decree hasn't been issued. Actually, the decree should have been issued and put into force on April 1, 1996. Did the revised proposal document still lack the required supplementing papers?

I still have enough patience to wait and I believe in the honesty of the institute's bureaucracy. What else can I do as a teacher who relies only on a civil servant's salary?

UJANG KARSANDI

Nabire, Irian Jaya