Non-Permanent Teachers Still Not Prosperous Despite Decades of Devotion

Duradin (51) has been a non-permanent teacher for 31 years. Many of his students have been successful, but Duradin\'s life is still far from prosperous.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Duradin (51, left), a teacher at SDN 1 Kaliwulu, together with Dede Juhadi (36), a teacher at SDN 1 Astapada, when met in Cirebon Regency, West Java, Friday (20/11/2020). Duradin is a non-permanent teacher who has served for 31 years while Dede has taught for the last eight years.

Duradin (51) has been a non-permanent teacher for 31 years. During the long period of time, the unsung hero has worked hard to educate the next generation as well as to support his family. Many of his students have been successful, but Duradin\'s life is still far from prosperous.

Since July 18, 1989, Duradin has been a non-permanent teacher, which is locally called “honorer” at a number of elementary schools in Cirebon regency, West Java. His hair is getting grey. His skin has begun to wrinkle. Much has changed significantly except for his welfare.

“My first salary was Rp 3,500 per month. Now it\'s Rp 400,000, ” said the teacher of the SDN 1 state elementary school in Kaliwulu on Friday (20/11/2020). It means that during the three decades of working as a teacher, the average salary increase is only Rp 13,216 a year. That amount is equivalent to a cup of coffee in a canteen or even lower. This income is also far below Cirebon\'s minimum wage of about Rp 2.19 million per month.

My first salary was Rp 3,500 per month. Now it\'s Rp 400,000.

From then until now, he has been faithfully pedaling his battered bicycle several kilometers to teach. Once, he walked because he didn\'t have the money to patch his bicycle tires. He fell unconscious on the road. The stitches by his left eye still remain.

This father of three children and four grandchildren realizes that his salary is not enough to support his family. Moreover, his parents\' 0.7 hectare rice field has been sold.

Also read: Maintaining Teacher Quality

In order to survive, he also does the odd job here and there, sometimes painting houses, or repairing school tiles. His extra work does not affect his main task as a teacher. It is hard for him to forget his profession as an educator.

Kompas/Hendra A Setyawan

Daniel, a non-permanent teacher at SDN Tamansari 4, Rumpin, Bogor, sprayed disinfectants in school classrooms, Saturday (24/10/2020).

Every week, Duradin, the graduate of the Islamic elementary school teacher’s training department at the State Academy of Islamic Studies (IAIN) of Syekh Nurjati in Cirebon, teaches almost 24 hours total. The teaching hours are the same as a teacher with the status of a state civil servant whose salary can be 10 times higher.

He has made every effort to become a civil servant in order to be more prosperous, from taking part in the selection test for civil servants on 13 separate occasions, to sleeping on the streets in Jakarta to join a demonstration. However, the ASN (civil servant) status is still only a dream.

He also went to college. With a scholarship from the Religious Affairs Ministry and financial help from relatives, the graduate of the Religious Teacher Training School (equivalent to SMA high school) finished his studies with a cumulative grade point average of 3.29. "As a student, I was older than the lecturer," he said.

Also read: Yacinto Dacrus,Teacher’s Devotion in Border Zone

According to Duradin, many of his colleagues had waited to be appointed civil servants until their death. Many also withdrew. "There are those who commit suicide by crashing a train because of stress," he said.

Duradin acknowledged that that he once planned to quit as a non-permanent teacher. Moreover, the salary of the non-permanent teacher is very low.

However, he has not budged and promises to become an educator. "As a teacher, there is a feeling of happiness when I know my students are successful. Some of them have become soldiers, civil servants, and doctors. "When meeting them, they kiss my hands," he said.

Afraid of being sorry

KOMPAS/ZULKARNAINI

Diana Widayani (36), a non-permanent teacher at the 56 State Elementary School in Banda Aceh, teaching her students, Saturday (21/11/2020).

A similar fate was experienced by Diana Widayani (36), a non-permanent teacher at the SD 56 state elementary school in Banda Aceh. Having served 15 years in this noble profession, his monthly salary is only Rp 670,000 per month, far from the minimum wage of Rp 2.9 million for workers in Aceh province.

As a grade III teacher, she has to teach every day. Diana\'s workload is the same as that of teachers with a civil servant status. "Sometimes I intend to resign, but I am afraid of regret, because who knows in the future, I could be appointed as a civil servant," said Diana, Saturday (21/11), at her school in Lamglumpang village, Ulee Kareng district.

That morning, Diana taught the students multiplication. Since a month ago, some schools in Banda Aceh have resumed face-to-face learning under strict health protocols.

Sometimes I intend to resign, but I am afraid of regret, because who knows in the future, I could be appointed as a civil servant

When the government implemented online learning, Diana was confused. The mobile device she owned was outdated, so it could not be used to open an application. To buy a new gadget, he had to pay Rp 2 million, the equivalent of three months\' salary. She got the money from her husband who works as a barber. "My intention to work was to help ease the burden of the husband, but instead, I asked for money from him. There was no other choice, I needed to teach and send the children\'s assignments,” she said.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Diana has taught from home. The 35 GB package assistance from the government is very helpful to meet the teaching needs. Diana hopes that the government will pay more attention to the fate of non-permanent teachers. Fifteen years of dedication is not a short time. She wants the government raise their salaries.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS PATI HERIN

Agusta Tamala, a teacher at Inpres Yamalatu Elementary School, Telutih District, Central Maluku Regency, Maluku, on Tuesday (4/12/2018). The teacher in remote Seram Island has served without a salary for 14 years.

The fate of the non-permanent teacher in rural areas in eastern Indonesia is nothing different. One of them is Agusta Tamala (45), a non-permanent teacher in Yamalatu village, Telutih district, Central Maluku regency. He has successfully revived teaching and learning activities in the village, which saw education halted for nearly six years due to social conflicts. In 2005, he started teaching there, when the conflict had just ended. All the teachers in the school fled due to the conflict. With a high school diploma, he was determined to teach there.

When he started teaching, he did not have a guidebook so he had to buy one in Masohi, the capital of the district. The trip to Masohi was also quite risky at that time because the conflict was still occurring, and he had to travel for at least two days by crossing dozens of rivers.

Also read: Agusta Tamala, Teaching for ‘Nothing’

At the beginning of his service, he was paid Rp 52,000 per month, although the payment date was not certain. Now, he has spent for 15 years as a non-permanent teacher but his monthly salary is only Rp 200,000. Despite the small amount, whether or not he gets paid is uncertain.

In the midst of uncertainty about welfare, Duradin and other non-permanent teachers remain faithful in teaching. They are building the future generation of the nation through education, even with poor financial rewards. (VINA OKTAVIA)