Unrecognized heroes

Unrecognized heroes

From Media Indonesia

Nov. 25, 1997 is the 52nd anniversary of the teachers'
profession. The nation is also 52 years old, a nation which rose
from the shackles of colonialism. Slowly but surely, it has been
developing and catching up with other neighboring nations which
have existed longer.

It is an undisputable fact that teachers are always trying
hard to survive, year in year out, yet they have never been
officially recognized as heroes of the nation. Just for the sake
of comparison, in Malaysia newly-graduated elementary school
teachers are paid about Rp 800,000 a month, and in Thailand, the
rate is Rp 270,000 for a new teacher, but after 15 years of
service the salary is raised to Rp 1,000,000.

During the colonial period, teachers were highly honored.
Presently teachers are the most marginally paid professionals,
despite their level of education being the same. Their conditions
often become worse because their meager salary has had various
deductions paid out of it for all sorts of fees.

How can we expect teachers to enhance their competence in
order to enter the tight competition which demands ever improved
quality in their profession? They simply have not enough time to
think about improving their teaching capability when they are too
preoccupied with fulfilling their families' primary necessities.
These poor conditions have apparently caused teachers to
sometimes resort to an unprofessional way of dealing with their
students.

Therefore, all parties are called on to participate in the
effort to improve the lot of teachers. It would be unreal to
demand their professionalism and idealism without the community's
support. This is a great moment, when the teachers' association
is over fifty years old, for us all to require that the teachers'
image is enhanced and at the same time serious effort should be
made to improve their welfare.

HANRI BASSEL

Jakarta