Jakarta, NU Online
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has blamed underperforming teachers for the shortcomings of the national education system.
“I’d like to give you a snapshot of the education system in the country,” he said on Wednesday at an event to mark the 66th National Teachers Day.
“There has been a lot of progress, but there is also still a lot that we need to improve.”
Yudhoyono said the first thing that needed to be fixed was teachers’ performance, pointing out that even though more and more were getting certified, there continued to be complaints from the public about their capability.
“From what I’ve heard, teacher performance has not improved along with everything else,” the president said.
He also called on teachers to manage their students and schools more conscientiously and responsibly, which he said would have the added benefit of helping mold children’s character.
Yudhoyono cited his own childhood growing up in the East Java town of Pacitan.
“Throughout primary school, junior high and senior high, there were two subjects that I always loved: math and Indonesian language,” he said.
“Indeed, it was math that helped propel my career in the military, and it was all because I was inspired by the teachers who taught math and Indonesian.”
He stressed that with the education budget this year set at Rp 267 trillion ($29.4 billion), and expected to rise to Rp 287 trillion in 2012, there was no reason for a lack of improvement in the national education system.
At Wednesday’s event in Bogor, Yudhoyono issued awards to four teachers and a school principal for their service.
Those awarded the Satya Lencana Pendidikan medal included Abdul Hajar from State Senior High School (SMAN) 3 in Makassar and Herfen Suryati from YPVDP Senior High School in Bontang, East Kalimantan.
The others were Imron Rosidi, a teacher at State Vocational School (SMKN) 2 in Pasuruan, East Java, and Mustafa, from SMKN 4 in Makassar.
Hikmah Nurbaity, the principal of SMAN 5 in Purworejo, East Java, was also honored. (jg/dar)
