Palembang – Different from the national education minister's statement, the Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI) has conceded that many regions in Indonesia still suffer a teacher shortage.

The minister recently said that Indonesia experienced a surplus in the number of teachers while PGRI chairman Sulistyo said over the weekend in Palembang that the insufficiency in teachers remained the main problem in education for rural and remote areas.

"It's inaccurate for the government to claim a surplus by 20 percent. It may be true for urban areas, but for rural areas, many schools in villages struggle to find teachers, particularly for certain subjects," he said.

He said the condition had prompted the schools to begin using casual teachers. He added that when a teacher cannot attend school, there are no staff replacements.

The PGRI urged the government to raise teachers' welfare by increasing their wages.

National Education Minister Muhammad Nuh said last week that many casual teachers had yet to gain permanent employment because of a 20 percent surplus, or 500,000, of teachers.