B

ali province will need 9,000 more teachers of Hindu studies at elementary to high school level by 2014. Nyoman Arya from the religious affairs agency said many teachers were now close to their retirement period, while the recruitment of new teachers was slow. There are 2,476 elementary schools in Bali, both state and private schools, 298 junior high schools and 275 senior high schools. The majority of state schools in Bali teach Hindu as the main religious subject.

"Some schools even employ teachers of other subjects to teach Hindu studies," he said.

Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika expressed concern over the shortage of Hindu teachers. "I have already coordinated with the Religious Affairs Ministry and the Bali Education Agency to find a solution," he said. "Given that the majority of Balinese are Hindu, I am concerned by the shortage of teachers we now face, especially for Hindu studies," Pastika said. Regulations stipulate that the recruitment of religious teachers be implemented through three ministries including the Religious Affairs Ministry and National Education Ministry.

Education agency head Wayan Suasta said he expected Bali would recruit additional religious teachers.