Blackboard jungle: The plight of Indonesia s honorary teachers
Hundreds of thousands of non-permanent teachers grapple with low wages and weak job protection
Non-permanent teachers at a state high school in Manggarai district, East Nusa Tenggara province, hold a rally to protest against unfair practices in July 2020. (Photo supplied)
After teaching for 16 years at a public elementary school in Bone district of South Sulawesi province, Hervina takes home 500,000 rupiah (US$35) a month, plus an incentive of 700,000 rupiah which she gets every four months.
Her recent move to share her situation on social media went viral and sparked a public outcry.
As she was accused of damaging the reputation of the school, the principal fired her but later reinstated her after intervention from the local and central governments.
Indonesia bans forced religious attire in state schools
Move follows one school s attempt to force a Christian student to wear a Muslim headscarf
Indonesian Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim announces a new decree banning state schools from interfering in the religious beliefs of students and teachers on Feb. 3. (Photo: YouTube)
The Indonesian government has issued a decree banning state schools from interfering in the religious beliefs of students and teachers in a move that is being hailed as part of increased efforts to ensure the Muslim-majority country remains inclusive.
The decree was announced on Feb. 3 following an outcry last month after a state vocational senior high school in Padang, West Sumatra province, ordered all female students to wear a hijab.