TEMPO.CO, Jayapura – Education, Youth, and Sport Department of Papua Province claimed that the the province is currently lack of teachers. Even when there are teachers at school, the performance is far from perfect. There are even a school that has six classes only has one teacher.
"Moreover, some of my fellow teachers prefer to stay in the city, eventhough they work far in the region. Therefore, often the students are present while the teacher being absent," said Elias Wonda, Head of the Department.
Moreover, Elias said that in some regions like the Puncak Jaya Regency, members of the national army work as teachers as well. This shifting profession phenomenon occurs that even a bible teacher has to teach regular subjects at schools.
Elias later mentioned that the real problem is a matter of wealth. Teachers in indigenous Papuan community are barely facilitated with housing as the Education and Special Autonomy budget were used only to build schools. If housing is provided, there is a possibility that they will stay and teach for the kids, he added.
CUNDING LEVI