“If teachers staged protest, how about the students?" the President said while addressing the ceremony marking the National teachers’ Day and the 62nd anniversary of Indonesian Teachers’ Association (PGRI) in Pekanbaru, Riau, on Sunday (25/11). To improve teachers’ welfare and capacities, the president has asked National Education Minister Bambang Sudibyo, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, as well as other related ministries to discuss with the House of Representatives to increase education budget and to improve teachers welfare.

One of the steps taken by the government, the president pointed out, is continuing the promotion of contract teachers to become civil servants. Until 2007, 351,505 contract workers have been made civil servant. "Five years under my administration, the entire contract workers will become civil servants," the President said greeted with applauses. The president said he understand teachers’ plight. He explained that before entering the military academy, he joined secondary teachers’ training school (PGSLP) in Malang, East Java.

Law on Salary Scheme

Separately, Indonesian Independent Teachers Federation (FGII) central board issued a statement calling on the authorities to draw up a law on Indonesian Teachers Salaries’ Scheme. FGII Secretary General Iwan Hermawan pointed out disparities between civil servant and non civil servant teachers.  “Disparities also occurred among teachers teaching in different regions. Teachers’ salary scheme depends on the attention given by regional administration.

Meanwhile in Yogyakarta, students of Sunan Pandanaran Madrasah Aliyah and Madrasah Tsanawiyah (Islamic elementary and junior high schools) in Yogyakarta wrote 1000 letters for teachers to mark the National Teachers’ Day. The letter will be sent to the National Education Minister to show their appreciation on efforts to improve education in Indonesia.