TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Ari Budhiman, the head of Jakarta Education Department, said there were 20 principals and teachers demoted from their positions this year. Some were demoted for not reflecting attitude as educators. “Some committed sexual harassment and extortion,” Ari told Tempo on Monday, May 4.
Aside from immoral practice and corruption, some of them were demoted for not being loyal to their task. There are even some that were absent for a long time and have compelled us to issue a sanction, Ari said.
Several principals demoted were transferred to other schools to become regular teachers. Meanwhile for troubled teachers, Ari did not mention the type of penalty to be given.
Although principals and teachers were caught committing crime, Ari said that he has no authority to sack them as government officials. Only the Local Staffing Agency has the right to sack government employees.
Meanwhile, Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama praised Ari’s performance in removing 20 defiant principals and teachers. “It is better not to have a teacher for the moment rather than having an incoherent teacher,” Ahok said.
ERWAN HERMAWAN | YOLANDA RYAN
