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Private school teachers demonstrate in Surabaya

Detik - November 29, 2000

Budi Sugiharto/Hendra & GB, Surabaya – Around 60 private school teachers from the Private School Teachers Communication Forum (FKGS) staged a demonstration at the Surabaya City Legislative Council in East Java. They urged the Council to clarify legal protection and private school teachers' rights.

The protesters arrived by bus at the Surabaya Provincial Legislative Council on Jl Yos Sudarso, Wednesday. At the time this news was posted, they continue to stage orations and await members of the Council who plan to receive a delegation.

As with student demonstrations, the teachers also brought several banners and posters containing their demands and hung them from the Surabaya City Council gates and building.

The teachers staged a similar demonstration at the Surabaya Provincial Legislative Council some time ago. At that time, they were promised by members of the Provincial Council that their demands would be fulfilled. However, this has not eventuated.

Once again, they gathered to stage a demonstration and asked the City Council to reformulate the regulations covering private education and accommodate their rights and proper legal protection.

According to the leader of FKGS, Yudin Bayo, the teachers have taken this action because many teachers at private schools, up to the level of university, have been fired arbitrarily and there are many outstanding pay and other grievances. "So, the local regulations are needed as the umbrella to protect private school teachers," Yudin said firmly at the oration

The teachers further urged the Minister of Education to immediately clarify the law on protection for private school teachers. In addition, they demanded that the funds allocated in the Regional Budget (APBD) for private education be distributed, including the funds for the improvement of private school teachers' welfare in Surabaya.

"It's not a secret that there are private school teachers in Surabaya being paid just Rp 53,000 a month," Yudin said. Rp 53,000 is around one-fifth the regional minimum wage and is worth US$5.61 at current rates.