'Teachers quality is simply poor'

In recognition of their role in education, the government has designated Nov. 25 as the National Teacher's Day. But, do they deserve such recognition? The Jakarta Post interviewed two residents on their views about the quality of teachers in the capital.

Yulian Effendi, 38, is an employee of a tutorial agency in Cibubur, East Jakarta. He lives with his wife and children in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta.

The quality of our teachers, especially those teaching in elementary, junior and senior high schools, is very poor. I don't know whether they don't have academic capabilities or they are just lazy to create something interesting for their students.

My conclusion is based on my experience as a salesman for a tutorial agency. I see, for instance, that almost all sixth-year students or third-year junior and senior high school students taking tutorial classes are not ready for national exams.

That's why tutorial agency like the one I am working with is in high demand. Many schools even cooperate with tutorial agencies to upgrade their students' academic performance.

Vivian, 36, is an employee of a private bank in Jakarta. She lives with her husband and daughter in Kalibata, South Jakarta.

My 10-year-old daughter is a fifth-year student at a public school. She once complained that she was bored with most of her teachers as they just read what was in the text books.

As she kept complaining I transferred her to a private school, for which I spent a lot of money. Although she has to travel far from home, she is now very happy since she says she enjoys the lesson very much. She says that her teachers there are very clever and offer students with various activities in the class.

I guess my experience shows us how low the quality of teachers in many school is. I don't say that teachers in public schools are all not qualified. The government must do something to improve the quality of teachers and we should have a standard for people wanting to become a teacher.

-- The Jakarta Post