Teacher land hike in allowance, still short of demand

Teacher land hike in allowance, still short of demand

JAKARTA (JP): The government has agreed to raise teachers'
functional allowances by 100 percent, far below various demands
made by protesting teachers.

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting at Bina Graha presidential
office on Wednesday, Minister of National Education Yahya
Muhaimin said the figure was the best the government could do due
to financial constraints for the 2000 fiscal year.

Yahya said the 100 percent increase in functional allowances
for teachers along with a 30 percent across-the-board salary
increase for civil servants had been endorsed by the House of
Representatives (DPR).

Any changes to the decision should be further discussed with
the House, he noted.

"However, the government will continue to seek all possible
ways to improve teachers' welfare," the minister pledged.

President Abdurrahman Wahid is scheduled to have a
consultative meeting with House leaders on Thursday. House
Speaker Akbar Tandjung is expected to raise the issue during the
meeting.

Cabinet Secretary Marsilam Simajuntak said teachers' demands
were thoroughly discussed during the Cabinet meeting, but the
government could not extend itself further due to serious
financial constraints.

"We understand fully the hardship faced by teachers, and we
will do everything to help them in improving their welfare,"
Marsilam remarked.

Teachers throughout the country have staged demonstrations
demanding higher salaries.

Indonesian Teachers Union (PGRI) secretary-general Sulaiman SB
Ismaya told The Jakarta Post that the government decision
violated a previous agreement on April 17 between PGRI and the
minister of education.

"In the previous agreement the government agreed to give a 300
percent increase in functional allowances. Of course we expect an
explanation," Sulaiman said, noting that the latest development
was disappointing.

A 100 percent increase means teachers will receive between Rp
90,000 (US$11.25) and Rp 210,000 on top of their basic salary.

Indonesia has about 1.7 million teachers.

Sulaiman conceded PGRI might review its decision to suspend
mass rallies. However be pledged that even if there were further
rallies, they would not disrupt end-of-term examinations.

"We will keep on fighting but will not harm students'
education," he remarked.

The teachers' demonstrations have continued this week. In
Medan, North Sumatra, a protest was held on Tuesday by the
Teachers Communication Forum for Teachers Struggle (FKPNG).

The charged that the government was unsympathetic to the
teachers' plight.

"If the government cannot treat teachers properly, let
teachers become the president and director general of budgeting,"
one protester said. (dja/byg/prb/39/sur)