To meritorious teachers

To meritorious teachers

From Pikiran Rakyat

I have five children, all university graduates, and four grandchildren. Let me suggest a few things to the teachers now struggling to improve their living conditions.

1) I am very concerned to learn that teachers, meaning those who have completed their teacher's training secondary school (SPG) education and have been teaching dozens of years as non- permanent teachers, earn only about Rp 70,000 a month.

Teachers have to fight for raises in their salaries to make the regional minimum wage in Bekasi, Rp 300,000 a month.

2) I am also concerned to find out that almost a hundred thousand teachers have taken to the streets in Jakarta. This is just like going to war, like the epic Bharatayuda.

3) It is a pity that students of the elementary schools, junior secondary schools and senior secondary schools, who greatly outnumber teachers already, have had to study in combined classes, a less effective learning process than when a complete teaching staff is available.

One indeed must understand the financial capabilities of the Republic of Indonesia at present.

Now look at the situation facing farmers.

During the four months of the harvest season, the rice yield is an average of three tons. Divide this into two halves with the owner of the rice field and deduct the result with about 0.5 tons for the cost of fertilizers, pesticides and seedlings. The net yield is one ton per four months. At harvest time a ton can fetch Rp 700,000. A farmer is usually assisted by two children and one wife (or three helpers). In one season (four months with 25 working days a month) there are 3 x 4 x 45 working days/person = 300 working days per person. So, a farmer will earn per working day only Rp 700,000: 3,000 = Rp 2,300.

Hopefully, the nation's farmers will never think of going on strike, otherwise we'll all be in big trouble.

H.E. Herman

Bandung