Jakarta – Indonesian teachers are protesting a ministerial decree that requires them to publish academic papers or scientific work to qualify for promotion and demand instead that promotions be based on teachers' skills and competence.
The Indonesian Teachers Associations Federation (FSGI) called the policy "unrealistic" and discriminatory against teachers.
"We understand that the policy aims to improve teachers' quality, But how can we be required to publish papers or scientific work while we must also handle up to 14 classes?" FSGI general secretary Retno Listyarti said, adding that the government had yet to provide teachers with writing training.
Retno further said that her organization considered policy makers inconsiderate for issuing the regulation, as it might force teachers to bribe others to write academic papers on their behalf or open opportunities for local media companies to publish teachers' papers without paying them.
The National Education Ministry has tried to bolster the quality of teaching by improving teachers' wages and benefits.
Of the more than Rp 262 trillion (US$29.34 billion) budgeted for education this year, about Rp 4.8 trillion was allocated for various teacher allowances.
In addition to the incentives, the government encouraged teachers to improve their educations and their skills through a certification system. Those who attain certifications receive more benefits.
Guntur Ismail, one of 600,000 teachers struggling for a promotion, says the regulations are depressing.
He said he could never meet the requirements with full teaching hours, six working days per week.
Guntur demanded that promotions be based on teachers' skills and competency levels, as was regulated in the 2005 Law on Education. "Promotions for teachers should be based on their teaching, personality, social behavior and professional competency," he said.
In addition to the policy requiring academic publications or scientific work, teachers also objected to the Administrative Reform Ministry's proposal to increase in-class teaching hours to 27.5 hours per week.
Fakhrul Alam, a teacher and education activist, said that teaching in class was not the only task teachers should take on. "There is more to do as a teacher than just teaching in front of classes, such as grading and counseling students," he said.
He added that the requirement also forced teachers to teach classes at different schools, which also impacted their teaching quality. "Teachers are so focused on fulfilling the in-class teaching hours requirement they are forced to teach classes at different schools, which surely decreases the quality of their lessons," Fakhrul said.
The FSGI proposes that between 18 and 20 teaching hours be required of teachers per week.
Requiring teachers to publish academic papers or scientific work is an attempt by the government to increase the overall quality of teachers nationwide. The government has also increased monthly salaries for new teachers to Rp 2 million per month and granted certification allowances.
Separately, the FSGI said it would report the ministry to the National Ombudsman Commission on Oct. 7 due to alleged irregularities in managing teachers' certification allowances. (msa)