Teacher Additional Monthly Salary Won’t Be Stopped: President Jokowi

President Jokowi gives a public lecture at Hasta Brata Stadium, PGRI Adi Buana University (UNIPA), Surabaya, Thursday (6/9). (Photo by: BPMI)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has dismissed the rumor that the Government will stop providing additional monthly salary for teachers and ensured that it is just hoax.

“I confirm that I am ready to be at the forefront and fight to defend the interests of teachers so that they can carry out their noble duties of educating our people,” President Jokowi said in his public lecture at Hasta Brata Stadium, PGRI Adi Buana University (UNIPA) in Surabaya, Thursday (6/9).

According to the President, there is no reason for the Government to cut or discontinue additional monthly salary for teachers. “It is a reward that must be received by teachers for their professional service,” he said.

President Jokowi added that the success of this country and the Government is determined by the success in shaping Indonesian people into those with quality, namely those with non-stop learning ability to adapt to the fast-changing era.

Human resources, the President said, is the key to improve the nation’s competitiveness.

“We have a hidden power and capacity but we haven’t made the most of it yet. Do not think we are not as good as other nation,” the President added.

President Jokowi cited the example of the Indonesian athletes’ achievements in the recent 2018 Asian Games that could exceed the medal target and even reached fourth rank in the medal tally.

In a public lecture attended by approximately three thousand members of the Indonesian Teachers Union (PGRI) and the UNIPA academic community, President Jokowi also officially opened the National Working Meeting of the Educational Institution Development Board of the PGRI that is set which will be held until Friday (7/9).

Also attending the lecture were Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko, General Chairwoman of the PGRI Unifah Rosyidi, East Java Governor Soekarwo, and Mayor of Surabaya Tri Rismaharini. (BPMI Setpres/ES) (GWH/EP/Naster)