Teachers abandon posts

Teachers abandon posts

NABIRE, Irian Jaya: Some 200 elementary school teachers in the hinterland of Paniai have been absent from their posts since August, an official said.

No explanation was available about why the teachers abandoned their schools, but notoriously low salaries are a suspected cause.

Head of the education office in the Paniai Regency, J.B. Soerono, expressed his concern with the "improper" actions of the teachers and the possible consequences for local children.

Antara quoted Soerono as saying that his office, through a state-owned radio RRI broadcast, has "instructed" the teachers to return. "We're holding their salaries...we'll pay them once they return," Soerono said. "If they refuse, we will have to dismiss them."

Paniai has a total of 234,125 elementary school students and some 1,673 teachers, including those who left their posts. (swe)