EN
ID
ACTNews, BATAM
– Teachers on the Indonesian outer islands are struggling to achieve one of
the main goals of Indonesian independence as stated in the preamble of the 1945
Constitution: to educate the life of the nation. To achieve this goal, many
teachers are willing to dedicate themselves to educating the students without
receiving fixed salaries.
On Kasu Island in
Batam, the teachers are paid IDR 500,000 a month from the School Operational
Fund (BOS) given by the government.
One of the
teachers, Yusri, said the students on the island go to school without having to
pay. The funding from the government, however, is not disbursed regularly every
month.
“The teachers’ salaries
are not necessarily paid regularly every month. It depends on the disbursement of
the BOS fund. However, the fund itself is mainly used for the maintenance of
the school facilities. The teachers are paid from the remainder of the fund,”
explained Yusri, Saturday (11/20/2021).
Due to the small,
irregular salaries, the teachers are looking for additional income outside
school hours by becoming sellers, fishermen, and offering private tuitions.
Yusri continued because the salaries are small and uncertain, the teachers are looking for
additional income outside of school hours. Such as selling, private lessons,
also being a fisherman.
"We as
teachers do our job sincerely, dedicating ourselves to educate children on
Indonesian outer islands. For food, we look for other means of livelihood such
as by fishing, from which can earn up to IDR 1 million,” he added.
Global Zakat –
Aksi Cepat Tanggap provided teachers on Kasu Island with financial assistance
from the zakat funds from the donors. []
