Jakarta – A number of teachers launched on Tuesday a new association called the Indonesian Civic Teachers Association (IGCI), amid growing concerns on a need for character education to tackle radicalism.

According to IGCI secretary-general Wawan Kurniawan, the association aims to provide places for teachers to actively participate in guiding the four pillars of the nation: Pancasila, the Constitution, the essence of the Republic of Indonesia and unity in diversity.

Moreover, the association will encourage teachers to improve their understanding of human rights and will develop teaching methods that help students understand their rights and duties as citizens, he added.

IGCI chairwoman Retno Listyarti said she hoped the new association would help Indonesia face challenges in improving the character of its young generation.

"The increasing phenomenon of violence in the name of religion or ethnicity in several regions in Indonesia, the growing religious-related sentiment in senior high schools, the growing tendency to reject other religions, the low tolerance of marginalized groups, and corruption are evidence of the challenges," Retno said after the declaration of the IGCI at the National Education Ministry in Jakarta. (rcf)