Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Malang – Over 32,000 contract teachers in East Java might have to let go of their dream of becoming civil servants.
Head of the East Java Education Office, Rasiyo, said after a meeting in Malang that based on a 2005 government regulation on the appointment of contract employees as civil servants, the contract teachers might not qualify.
The regulation, he said, rules that, among other things, only those who have been working for at least 10 years – based on the time when the teachers received their letter of appointment as contract teachers – can be appointed as civil servants.
However, in reality, many contract teachers have taught in government schools for years but have only recently received their letter of appointment.
Rasiyo said the problems faced by East Java contract teachers were also found in many other provinces. "Hopefully, the government will review the regulation and immediately resolve the problem to allow all contract teachers to be appointed as civil servants this year," said Rasiyo.
He promised to convey the matter to the National Education Ministry, the Institute of State Personnel Administration and the Ministry of Administrative Reform which have jurisdiction over the matter.
Assistant head of the Malang Education Office, Imam Buchori, had even forwarded three letters to the Minister of Administrative Reform to revise the disputed clause.
"We will continue to make efforts in order that the government review the clause. We hope it will be reviewed this year so that they could sit for the application test and be appointed as civil servants," said Imam Buchori.
Imam gave his assurance that contract teachers who sought clarification on their status would not be dismissed.
Around 100 assistant teachers throughout Malang city had recently converged on the Malang Education Office, demanding an explanation as to why 198 assistant teachers were not appointed as civil servants after taking the recent public service exam.
"I've dedicated 10 years of my life to teaching. But, why have I failed?... The government also says contract teachers shall be given priority to be accepted as civil servants," said Joko Raharjo, 43, a sports teacher at Salahuddin junior high school in Malang.