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.