Teachers brave unrest in nation's trouble spots

For some teachers, a day at work is not merely about dealing with the stresses of absenteeism and a wise-ass student. Caught in the middle of conflicts, they also have to consider the matter of their students' welfare and their personal safety. The Jakarta Post correspondents Edy Petebang in West Kalimantan, Novy P in Ambon and R Kadir in Irian Jaya relate the stories of teachers living amid hostilities.

JAKARTA (JP): Alexander Tupan, a teacher at Ahmad Yani Ambon junior high school in Petak Sepuluh, Nusaniwe, has sometimes faced an empty classroom in the last two years since Maluku erupted in inter-faith violence.

Parents chose to keep their children at home rather than run the risk of them being killed or injured on the way to school. When students did come to class, the roaring sound of explosions or gunfire often left them so traumatized that they begged to be allowed to go home.

The problems were compounded by the fact the student body is a mix of Christians and Muslims. Security has been provided to try to contain tensions, but their presence is another disturbance in the education process.

But Tupan, 39, said the conflict has not done anything to sway his dedication to his profession of 13 years. He is from a family of educators, with family members who have worked as staff and professors at local universities.

"I have continued to serve in Ambon, for the single reason that I am saddened to see the condition of education for the students ... I would have no desire to leave Ambon even in the conflict, except if I was reassigned by my supervisor," said Tupan, who earns a monthly salary of Rp 800,000.

Tupan's story of dedication to his work despite the violence raging around him is echoed by many teachers living in areas engulfed by strife in recent years.

For Wiwik Arianti, becoming a teacher was not her first choice in life. Born in Ambon of Javanese parents, she was adopted by Javanese family and grew up in Irian Jaya.

She originally wanted to study economy to improve the lot of her family, who earned a living selling vegetables in the market, but was instead sent to the Teacher Training Institute. She was still doubtful about becoming a teacher when she graduated with her degree in education in 1991.

"It was still like a dream to me. How could it not be for a quiet young woman to have to think of talking in front of a group of students?" she said.

But she passed the teaching exam two years later, and was assigned to teach Indonesian at a junior high school about 100 kilometers from Jayapura.

Although the 32-year-old mother of three says she enjoys her job, she lives in fear of being kidnapped. At least two of her students were kidnapped for three months by guerrillas, and she remembers a frightening experience when she was stopped on her way to school, which is one hour from her home.

"Fortunately after they knew I was an elementary school they didn't do me any harm," said Wiwik, who earns Rp 1.2 million monthly but spends at least Rp 20,000 a day for transportation.

Some teachers have showed a deep concern for the plight of refugees, displaced by ethnic conflicts around the country.

Ratna, 27, a student of a private university in Pontianak, has spent the last two years as a volunteer teacher for 60 kindergarten and 190 elementary school-age children at the haj dormitory in Pontianak.

She is one of nine volunteers who teach math, Indonesian and Arabic languages, Pancasila and civics to the children. Every month, the volunteer receive transport allowances ranging from Rp 20,000 to Rp 25,000 from a Sambas refugee foundation which was set up to fight for the refugees' rights. The money comes from the West Kalimantan authorities and donations.

Abidin, 45, said he was still haunted by the 1997 ethnic conflict which broke out in the province, but he could not leave because teaching was in his blood.

"I still want to be a teacher because its my calling. Besides, I find difficulties in finding another job. My father used to be a teacher, so my teaching nature may be come from him." said the math teacher at the SLTP Negeri Serimbu state-owned junior high school in Air Besar district, Landak regency, some 230-kilometers away from West Kalimantan capital of Pontianak.

He said his monthly wage of Rp 1 million was not sufficient to support his wife and his two children.

"I run a drink stall. If I only relied on my monthly salary, I still won't be able to build a house and buy a motorcycle," said Abidin, who have been teaching for 15 years.