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