T

emporary teachers and employees in Malang regency, East Java, have demanded that Malang Regent Sujud Pribadi issue a decree to clarify their status as teachers.

Thousands of teachers from kindergarten to senior high school have complained about the high concentration of teachers in certain areas and those teaching the same subjects in particular schools.

"As a consequence, many teachers don't get teaching experience. They come to work but are not given teaching schedules, which is the same as not earning money, because of their temporary status," Malang Temporary Teachers Forum head Ari Susilo said Tuesday.

The teaching schedules of the temporary teachers often overlap with full-fledged teachers or those appointed as civil servants because, after passing their certification tests, the full-fledged teachers are obliged to meet the minimum requirement of 24 teaching periods per week.

Representatives from the temporary teachers and employees forum held talks with Malang Regent Sujud and Malang Education Office head Suwandi. "We were relieved by the issuance of a decree banning schools from dismissing temporary teachers and employees with no teaching experience, and by the decision to post new civil servants based on demand, to prevent the high concentration of teachers in one place," said Ari.

Ari said the agreement was very encouraging, despite not touching on the fundamental issue, however, they would not complain as long as the decree was implemented in accordance with the underlying issue.

Temporary teachers could not take part in teacher certification tests because their appointment letters were issued by their respective school principals, whereas, in fact, the appointment letters of those teaching in state schools should be issued by the regent, and those teaching at private schools by their foundations.

The current number of temporary teachers and employees in Malang regency stands at 5,196, but Malang regency administration has only certified 1,508 of them. This figure is based on the number of temporary teachers and employees who have received allowances from the Malang regency administration of Rp 500,000 (about US$50) per year.

Those who have yet to be certified are mostly elementary school teachers due to a mistake in proposing a quota on the number of teachers submitted by the provincial civil service agency to the national civil service agency.

The temporary elementary school teachers and employees receive no more than Rp 450,000 per month in allowances and many of them only get between Rp 150,000 and Rp 250,000 per month.

School authorities will post those who have not been allotted teaching schedules to other divisions not related to the teaching profession, such as the administration division, libraries or school cooperatives.

Ari said the current number of teachers reaching retirement age in Malang regency was 75 people per month, while the demand for teachers will reach 1,500 in 2010.

Regent Sujud said he would probably accede to the temporary teachers' demands next year because, currently, he lacked the legal means to issue a decree regarding the fate of the temporary teachers and employees.