Yahya promise fails to impress teachers

JAKARTA (JP): Teachers on the government payroll continued with their protests in Jakarta on Wednesday in spite of a promise by Minister of National Education Yahya Muhaimin to fight on their behalf and to try and double their salaries.

More than 2,000 teachers from Greater Jakarta rallied outside the Presidential Palace to demand better wages while the Cabinet was in session to avert the threat of a nationwide teachers strike.

A national strike would coincide with preparations for national final school exams next month, adding even more pressure for the government to act. While a national strike this week looks unlikely, some teachers say a series of actions would still be held later this month, possibly starting on April 22.

Yahya told reporters after the Cabinet meeting led by Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri that he had proposed to Minister of Finance Bambang Sudibyo a 100 percent increase in teaching salaries.

He estimated that the proposal would cost the government an additional Rp 18 trillion (US$2.4billion) in the nine-month fiscal period beginning April 1.

He said he had no idea where that money would come from, but insisted that the increase was necessary.

"I beg the teachers not to continue their strike. God willing, the government will be able to improve their situation," he said.

The protesters, however, were not impressed by the promise and many said they would continue with their agenda, including the possibility of forcing schools to shut down.

Teachers from Greater Jakarta for the first time joined the protests on Wednesday. All were wearing their Indonesian Teachers Union (PGRI) batik uniforms.

Unlike their peers in other towns, their participation was coordinated so that it did not disrupt the learning process. Each school sent two representatives to the demonstration, which began outside the presidential palace and ended at the House of Representatives.

The protests, watched closely by police, went peacefully.

Five representatives were allowed inside the presidential palace compound to give their message to Joko Setiono, a senior official of the State Secretariat.

At the House of Representatives, the protesting teachers were met by Speaker Akbar Tandjung who also promised to discuss their demands with the government at the first opportunity.

"The House leadership has just had a meeting in which we agreed to urge the government to raise the salaries of teachers," he said.

Promises failed to placate the teachers.

Arifin Rusmana, chairman of PGRI Jakarta chapter, said teachers in Greater Jakarta area planned a series of actions city-wide beginning on April 22 until their demands were met.

On April 22, teachers will be asked to stay away from classes and let students learn by themselves. From April 24 to 26, teachers will boycott classes and students will be asked to stay home. This will be repeated from May 1 to 6 and again from May 8 to 20.

If these actions fail, PGRI Jakarta chapter plans a total strike on May 22.

"Teachers are ready to face the consequences. It is not fair to expect them to show dedication to their work while society neglects their needs," Arifin said.

In Purwokerto, Central Java, the Banyumas Teacher Interaction Forum (Figurmas) announced on Wednesday a plan for a strike on May 2, coinciding with the National Education Day.

"All teachers in Banyumas regency will go on strike," the forum said in a statement.

The announcement followed last week's protest by about 1,000 teachers demanding higher salaries.

"We know the strike will disrupt the learning process. But this action is very important in the long run. Teachers cannot work properly if they have to worry about putting food on the table," Eko Purwanto, a teacher at STM Negeri Purwokerto, said.

In Bandung, West Java Vice Governor Dedem Ruchlia stated the provincial administration sympathized with the teachers' demands but said it was up to the central government to deal with the matter.

Dedem said the administration would consider using soldiers as substitute teachers if the strike went ahead.

Meanwhile, in Balaraja district, Tangerang, classes returned to normal on Wednesday after the disruption a day before.

Wildan Chandra, who coordinated the protest on Tuesday, said the teachers had decided to resume work while waiting for a response from the government. (dja/rms/edt/asa/45/41/25)