They are now asking the government to fulfill their rights. The professional allowance has been ruled in the law no. 15/2006 on Teachers and Lecturers.

 “I learnt that I have passed the certification assessment from the internet, there no official notification. I have fulfilled the entire requirement, but so far, we have not received the allowance. There are 14 other teachers who joined the certification assessment under the 2006 quota. None of them have received their allowance,” said Ateng Suherman, a teacher at the State junior high school SMPN 16 Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday (2/1).

Ateng said the teachers only want the government to give what they are entitled to. "This allowance will help us a lot. I hope that after I get the professional allowance, I would not have to find another side jobs," said Ateng, a math teacher who have been working for 13 years.

Siti Rabiyah – a teacher of state elementary school SDN 4 Rappang, Sidrap regency, South Sulawesi also hopes her allowance could be disbursed soon. She has been waiting for almost three months, but there’s still no certainty.

“Some said that we have to show the certificate issued by the university that conduct the assessment. But no teachers in my place have ever received any notification or certification. Meanwhile other said that the allowance will be directly transferred to our account. I am confused, will we get the money or not,” Siti wonders.

20,000 teachers joined the certification under the 2006 quota or the first of the ten years certification period for around 2.7 million teachers in Indonesia. Their professional allowance should have been paid since last October

However only 8,257 out of 16,872 teachers who joined the certification assessment carried out in 31 universities passed. They should have received their allowance because they have fulfilled the requirements.

Aan Rohanah, a member of the Commission X of the House of Representatives hopes that the late payment would not harm teachers’ interest. “The government should disburse the entire unpaid arrears," Aan said.

Head of the Program Sub-Directorate at the National Education Ministry, E Nurzaman, said, the fund to for the professional allowance have been sent by the National Education Ministry to education agencies.

“The professional allowance for teachers under the 2006 quota has been sent, and the BRI bank will distribute the fund for teachers. There might be some delay in the distribution," Nurzaman said. (ELN)