REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- It is urgent for the government to make the blue print of national education by involving all components of education, Federation of Indonesian Teachers' Union (FGSI) Secretary General Heru Purnomo remarked here on Tuesday. The blue print of national education to serve as guidelines, benchmarks and guidance in implementing national education policies, Purnomo noted.
He stated that with the blue print, the development of national education is no longer done partially and sporadically but is more planned, comprehensive and involving all parties.
In commemorating the National Education Day (Hardiknas) which falls every May 2, Purnomo also asks for the Education Institute for Teaching Personnel (LPTK) and Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) to improve the quality so thate teachers produced are competent.
"The curriculum in LPTK should be tailored to the times and technology, as well as curriculum that includes child-friendly education and critical thinking skills," he added.
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Further, he added that teachers should be equipped with child-friendly education, understanding Child Protection Law, and teachers should also be equipped with social competence and mature personality.
According to him, it is time to make a regulation at the level of Presidential Regulation concerning the protection of teachers in schools. Then the level of regulation on the handling of violence in schools.
"For the honorary teachers, it is an urgent issue that should be immediately met, and the government's solution is to improve teachers' welfare, provide monthly incentives and even appoint them to civil servants, in accordance with qualifications and regulations," he added.
He said there are still many teachers whose status is based on contract, with a fee of Rp35,000 per month, as experienced by Imron Husain, a teacher from Sumenep, Madura.
In addition, another teacher from West Nusa Tenggara also gets a fee of Rp50,000 per month, and therefore it is time for the government to pay attention to the welfare of contract teachers.