Teachers in cities more realistic than in villages

JAKARTA (JP): Many elderly Indonesian teachers, especially those living in villages and regencies, still believe that teaching is a devotion.

However, in big cities like Jakarta, nowadays teachers are generally more realistic. They say they love their profession and hope to make a living from it, but they admit they cannot rely only on their salaries.

"I am sure that almost all teachers in the city (Jakarta), especially the married ones, have side jobs because their salaries are far smaller than their spending on daily needs," said Dharsono, a teacher at the 01 Ampiun state elementary school (SDN) in Central Jakarta.

Dharsono, now in his forties, said he received Rp 500,000 a month from the government, despite his 17 years of service. He said he was also given 50 kilograms of rice, for him, his wife and three children.

"I can't do any other jobs which have nothing to do with my teaching skills," he said. In efforts to get more money to bring up his three children, Dharsono also teaches an afternoon class (at the same school) for Rp 150,000 a month.

He said he could not make money by giving extra lessons to his students because, "almost all of my students are from poor families".

Another teacher, Sudihardjo, who has been teaching for 30 years, said he received Rp 800,000 as his monthly salary, which he said was too small to cover the needs of his family, which included three children.

Sudihardjo, who is now teaching at SMPN (state junior high school) 09 in Cakung Barat, East Jakarta, said he would do anything legal to finance his children, who are now college students.

"Once I became a door to door salesman of an electronics product. Sometime I serve as a land or house broker," he said.

Another gloomy situation was experienced by Sujiko, an elementary school teacher in Cakung, East Jakarta.

Sujiko was not available for interview, but his wife said that with 21 years of service, Sujiko earned only Rp 350,000 per month.

"The money is just enough to finance our son's education at the Tebu Ireng Islamic boarding school in Jombang, East Java. I have to cover the other expenses," said Mrs. Sujiko, who sells household items to her neighbors.

Sujiko's two other sons are married.

Jobless husband

Sumarah, a 58-year-old teacher in Yogyakarta, has her own bleak story. She started teaching in 1967 for Rp 900 per month. "Now I get Rp 1 million per month," said the teacher who works at Tegalrejo elementary school in Yogyakarta.

With the money she earns, Sumarah has to be flexible in order to survive. Her four daughters are studying at Gadjah Mada University, while her husband is jobless.

"I sometimes borrow from the student savings I manage. That is just for my daily transport expenses which are only Rp 2,600 a day. Still, many times, I cannot afford it."

She said she takes a bus from her house in the village of Dekso, Kulon Progo, some 50 kilometers west of Yogyakarta to school.

"I have to spend a lot every month, especially on my daughters. I end up taking home only Rp 250,000 from my total salary every month."

She said she had to turn to local banks and cooperatives to get extra money for her family. "Thank God I inherited a rice field of about 5,000 square meters. I earn some Rp 400,000 every month from the rice field."

The story of a "model teacher" comes from Makassar, the capital of the province of South Sulawesi.

Asridjal, affectionately called Tuan Guru (Mister Teacher) by local residents, vowed to devote his life to teaching.

The 57-year-old man, who is now heading SDN (elementary school) 172 in Atapange, Majauleng district in Wajo regency, 72 kilometers north of Makassar, said teaching had been his obsession since his childhood. "As soon as I completed teacher training school (SGB) I applied to teach at a state school," he recalled.

Despite his Rp 600,000 salary, Tuan Guru, who is reputed for his skills in mathematics, said he was not tempted to do any side work.

"Some of my colleagues do businesses and cultivate rice fields. I do have a plot of land I inherited from my late parents, but I have someone else cultivate it. I prefer to see my students at school or my family at home to doing any side jobs after class," Asridjal said, adding his youngest child was still at a senior high school.

His neighbors have dubbed him a very diligent man. "He says he must set a good example to his students and children," said Andi Ajra, one of his sons. "My father is always at school before seven in the morning. He doesn't want to sell his old Honda motorbike he bought in installments in 1985 and to buy a new one."

"Teachers were born to devote their lives to education. So I have never complained about my destiny. I use my salary to finance my seven children so they can finish their university courses, for food and the motorbike installments," Asridjal said, adding that he had been able to set aside a small amount to build a house.

"I live a humble life. I love it. Don't become a teacher if you want to be rich." (ind/swa/27/sur)