Jakarta (Kompas: (28/03/07) Teachers need certainty concerning the implementation of the Law no 14/1005 on teachers and lecturers, including certification process, quality improvement program as well as functional and professional allowance. Currently teachers are confused by many discourses issued by the government through different ministries.  The Ministry of National Education, for instance, has announced to the public that teachers’ professional allowance worth one month salary will be given to any teachers who pass the certification program. 

However, in a hearing with the Commission X of the House of Representatives, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati asserted that we cannot rely on the Central government concerning the disbursement of teachers’ allowance due to over lapping regulations in the central and regional administration levels. The same problem has been hindering the endorsement of the government regulation (RPP) on teachers (Kompas, 27/3). “Since the draft law being discussed in the House of Representatives, the government has promised to improve teachers’ welfare through allowance and quality improvement programs. However, so far there is no realization,” said the head of Indonesian Independent Teachers’ Federation, Suparman, who is also member of Jakarta’s Teachers’ Honorary Board on Tuesday.

Commenting on the overlapping of draft teachers’ regulation (RPP) with other regulation concerning regional autonomy, Suparman pointed out the weak coordination among government’s institutions in drafting the laws and regulations. “This problem should have been discussed during the deliberation of the bill before it was passed into law," he said.