Jakarta (Kompas: (06/07/07) Teachers are concerned with the lacking of transparency in the Teachers’ certification process especially concerning the requirements and its  mechanism. “Teachers certification process in Tangerang is not carried out transparently. Dissemination was not carried out intensively and the criteria remain unclear," said Bahar, a math teacher who is a member of Teachers’ Coalition (Koalisi Guru) in a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday (5/7).

Certification is a formal requirement for teachers to get professional recognition; it is also a requirement to get additional welfare benefit. The certification is required for all teachers, both civil servant and those working in private institutions. According to the government, there are three objective of teachers’ certification. First, it guarantees teachers’ capacity in carrying pit their duties to realize the goal of the national education; second, to improve the quality of education process and output; and third, to improve teachers’ professionalism.

Welfare improvement for teachers—holder of certificate – is given in the form of professional allowance whose amount is equal to one-month salary. With this allowance, teachers are expected to improve their welfare and quality. However, the certification process is quite complicated. The government has set out the requirements, including holding a D4 /bachelor degree and has been selected to fulfill the quota in their respective regions. “The problem is, there is no clear criteria and mechanism concerning the appointment of those selected to join the certification process. The decision is in the hands of school principle, observers and education agency. We are afraid that the lack of transparency will open the opportunity for collusion and bribery,” he said.

Those having good relationships with those three authorities or those willing to pay have bigger opportunity to be selected to fulfill the quota. Meanwhile, qualified and critical teachers, who do not please school principals or education agency, would be set aside and eventually put in the bottom of the list. If this situation continues, it will detriment the national education. Aside of triggering conflict among teachers, it also nurture corruption and discourage critical stance against the bureaucracy. Therefore, teachers’ Coalition and various teachers’ groups urged the House of Representatives to speed up deliberation of the Bill on Freedom to get Public Information.