Teachers demand more than just pay hike

Sari P. Setiogi and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Indonesian teachers marked the 36th anniversary of their organization on Thursday with a demand for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration to pay more respect to their achievements.

Siti Aisah of Cempaka High School in Central Jakarta suggested that the government should stop presenting medals to performing teachers, saying it contributes little to their efforts in raising educational standards.

Siti, one of 133 teachers who won Citibank funds to develop a creative learning method recently, said she would prefer full scholarships to government awards.

"We need to improve our knowledge, we need to keep learning. Most of the scholarships are only partial, and that forces us to find ways to cover the rest ourselves. It makes us unable to concentrate fully on our study," Siti told The Jakarta Post.

The quality of teachers has become a major concern as the country is trying to boost the standard of national education.

Another teacher, St. Isrin L. Chandra of Purnama High School in South Jakarta, said the government had not provided teachers with opportunities to advance their knowledge and enrich their careers.

"Teachers should be given more opportunities to raise their structural promotion level. The bureaucracy is too complicated," said Isrin, who has remained a temporary civil servant despite having taught students for 19 years.

Unlike Siti, Isrin won the Citibank innovation fund last year.

Isrin suggested that the government open more opportunities for teachers to study abroad and have their minds opened to other teaching systems.

He acknowledged that teachers' financial welfare remained a major concern throughout the country. Taking his own experience an example, he said he received his salary every three to six months.

The teachers' concerns came as the President commemorated the anniversary of the Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI) with hundreds of teachers from across the country at the Bung Karno sports complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

In his speech, Susilo asked Minister of National Education and regional administrations to undertake measures in an attempt to improve teachers welfare.

Underlining the fact that most teachers lived below the poverty line, Susilo said breakthrough policies from regional administrations were needed to raise the salary of teachers, particularly those who serve in conflict-prone and remote areas.

"We all know that the teachers' welfare has a correlation with the quality of our education," the President said.

However, the President failed to promise an increase in government spending on teachers salaries.

The 1945 Constitution states that the education budget must account for at least 20 percent of the total state budget. But the government admitted it could not afford to meet this requirement immediately.

At one point, Susilo interrupted his speech when he saw some teachers talking to each other, falling asleep or leaving the venue.

"Teachers, I expect you to listen to my speech," he paused for a few minutes before continuing.

The celebration also coincided with the national campaign to promote teaching as a profession.

During the celebration, Susilo awarded five governors and 10 regents for their achievements in fighting illiteracy in their respective areas. The President also awarded Satya Lencana Karya Satya medals to five teachers for service of between 20 to 30 years.