The educator who stood up against a regent

The educator who stood up against a regent

Haidir Anwar Tanjung, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru, Riau

Abdul Latif Hasyim's name made headlines recently across various
national media, following massive protests by teachers and
students in Kampar regency.

Thousands of demonstrators demanded the immediate resignation
of Kampar regent Jefri Noer, chanting Latif's name as a victim of
the regent's high-handed neglect of education in the regency.

Latif, 46, principal of State Senior High School II in Air
Tritis district, has become the champion of people in Kampar for
his unwavering stance on education.

The enmity between the educational community, including
students, and the regional administration started on Feb. 5, when
the regent invited about 100 teachers to a dialog on boosting the
quality of local education.

The dialog took place at the Kampar regent's office and
initially began as usual, with the teachers listening calmly to
the advice and instructions from their governing board.

In his heart, however, Latif was disappointed about many
issues concerning education in the regency. These accumulated
disappointments led to his directness in posing questions and
contributing input to the dialog. He did not necessarily limit
his questions to the sphere of academia.

Instead, Latif, a father of four, had questioned the miniscule
2004 education budget in the regency -- only 5 percent of the
regental budget of Rp 700 billion (US$82.3 million), not the 20
percent as stipulated by the Constitution.

The ever decreasing education budget had been like a slowly
tightening noose for teachers in Kampar. In 2003, the regental
government had allocated only 13 percent of its budget for
education, but neither educators nor the people were ever given
any reasons for the continuing cut in the education fund.

"I merely asked during the dialog why only 5 percent of the
budget had been allocated toward education in Kampar, when the
Constitution stipulates a minimum 20 percent," he said.

It was this question that provoked the regent's fury, who
immediately expelled Latif from the dialog, chastising the
principal for daring to raise the education budget and speak to
him on the same level.

It seems the regent took offense at the gall of a mere teacher
who would deign to interfere with government matters.

Despite his expulsion, however, Latif resolutely remained and
followed the dialog.

"I was not ready to leave, because I was invited officially to
give input to the Kampar government on educational matters," he
said.

Latif's expulsion triggered an angry reaction from fellow
colleagues and the people of Kampar -- and it is not the first
time that the Kampar public has stood together and protested
Jefri's arrogance.

"In the beginning, those who made the call to protest were
colleagues who were not at the dialog, but to whom I had related
the experience. The sense of solidarity spread through the
academic community and they decided to strike. I'm not a
provocateur ... this is an act of solidarity by teachers and
students," Latif told The Jakarta Post at home in Bangkinang,
about 60 kilometers west of Pekanbaru.

Latif said Jefri had taken little notice of education during
his term, and in the past year alone, had replaced the Education
and Sports office head three times.

The regent's arbitrary policies were like a time bomb set to
explode any time.

In the past two years, for example, Latif's senior high school
had never received any funds for educational development,
although he had submitted several requests for additional
classrooms. The requests were denied, citing a lack of funds.

"If the Kampar government doesn't care about our education,
what would become of our pupils?" he said.

It is clear that Latif is a man who speaks from the heart, and
while he had the courage to voice his conscience against the
unfair budgetary policy, he denies that he has any skill in
politics or oration, and continues to decline requests from
fellow teachers and students to speak to the people.

"Even now, I really don't want to speak in front of the masses
because I have no talents as an orator, nor do I have any
political skill. I'm just a teacher...," he said.

His honesty and integrity is evident in the numerous
achievements he has made throughout his career in education.

A 1984 University of Riau graduate with a major in education,
he was given the best student national award in the midst of his
studies in 1983.

After graduating, he got a post at Ranai State Senior High
School I on remote Natuna Island, Riau province, where he taught
for four years. He then got a teaching post at Bangkinang Senior
High School II.

His dedication to teaching and education was acknowledged on
Aug. 11, 1992 -- which remains the most memorable day in his life
-- when he was bestowed an exemplary teacher national award,
signed by then-minister of education and culture Prof. Fuad
Hassan.

Tow days later on Aug. 15, he received a similar award
bestowed upon him by former first lady, Madam Tien Soeharto.

"In 1997, I was appointed principal of Air Tiris State Senior
High School, where I still am," he said.

But these were just the tip of the iceberg -- in mid-1997,
along with five other national exemplary teachers, he was part of
the Indonesian delegation sent to Japan to conduct a one-month
comparative study on educational systems and curricula.

"In November 2002, I was again entrusted by the Indonesian
government to take part in another comparative study, this time
in Canada, where I studied education management for a month," he
said.

Latif does not excel only in the field of education, but he is
also a noted calligrapher. He taught himself the high art, and
works on it during his spare time, even finding the time to give
extracurricular calligraphy lessons to students.

His work of embossed Arabic calligraphy painted on canvas,
which he calls three-dimensional calligraphy, earned him first
place in a national calligraphy competition.

His calligraphy has also been exhibited in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia, while in Riau, many of his donated works adorn the
walls of several mosques.

Latif's largest calligraphic masterpiece hangs in his home and
measures 75 cm x 75 cm.

He tells a short anecdote of how former president BJ Habibie
offered Rp 46 million for the painting during an exhibition in
Batam.

"I couldn't sell it -- even when Pak Habibie offered such a
fortune," he said.