Teachers 'told' to buy hats, sell books

BOGOR (JP): State elementary school teachers in Bogor have reacted angrily to pressure from the local education office to buy hats.

A principal, who did not want to be identified, said Monday that teachers were compelled to buy the hats -- sold in conjunction with the commemoration of the 52nd anniversary of the Indonesian Teachers Association which fell on Nov. 25 -- for Rp 6,000 (US$1.66) each.

Teachers were also being forced to sell three books, titled Teman (Friend), Gesit (Skillful) and Hikmah (Wisdom), for between Rp 2,000 and Rp 3,000 each, he said.

"Actually we were reluctant to buy (the hats) but we were forced to. We had no choice but to abide by the orders of the education office."

He said the cost of the hats would be deducted from the teachers' salaries in two installments.

"You know the amount of our salaries. Why should we be forced to buy products by the office?"

The principal said teachers were recently forced to buy belts at Rp 14,000 a piece. Payments for the belts are still being deducted from their wages.

He said the office would also cut the principals' salaries if the teachers working at their schools failed to sell the books.

But, the head of the education office, Ayo Tjumara, said Monday that he knew nothing about the sale of hats to teachers at elementary schools.

Ayo also denied that his office forced the teachers to sell book.

"We just ask them to sell the books. If nobody buys the books, they could be returned to the publisher. We do not receive money from the publisher," he said. (24/jun)