Fakfak Teachers' Salary Hasn't Been Paid, Filep Gives a Firm Response

19 January 2023 oleh admin

JAKARTA, dpd.go.id - Letter of Instruction from the Indonesian Teachers Association of Fakfak Regency, stopping the teaching and learning process as of January 17, 2023. This is due to the non-payment of salaries for January 2023. This issue also received a firm response from West Papua Senator Dr. Filep Wamafma. Filep highlighted the performance of the relevant agencies that manage this.

“I was shocked and surprised, how could there be an incident where teachers' salaries have not been paid? Everyone understands that the existence of the Special Autonomy policy aims to provide affirmation of two basic things, namely education and health. There shouldn't be stories of teachers' salaries not being paid. Where is the coordination between related agencies and local government?” said Filep firmly.

Filep then reminded a number of regulations regarding this issue. He stated that the Director General of Fiscal Balance's Letter regarding TKD Details, a list of Details of Allocation of Transfers to Regions for the 2023 Fiscal Year, consists of Revenue Sharing Funds, General Allocation Funds, Special Physical Allocation Funds, Special Non-Physical Allocation Funds, Grants to Regions, Special Autonomy Fund for Aceh Province , Special Autonomy Funds for the Provinces in Papua, Additional Infrastructure Funds for the Provinces in Papua, Specialty Funds for DI Yogyakarta, Village Funds, and Fiscal Incentives.

"Especially for Papua, in 2023 the Special Autonomy Fund, Additional Infrastructure Funds in the context of Special Autonomy, is IDR 17.24 trillion. This does not include balancing funds which consist of revenue sharing funds (DBH), DAU, DAK and additional funds in the framework of Otsus. Of all the funds, education and health are the biggest focus. So it is very surprising if there is still a problem that teachers have not been paid their salaries," said Filep.

Senator Filep said that educational issues like this should not harm students and parents. According to him, the delay in education for generations is a big loss for the future of Papua.

"Problems like this, if examined further, will definitely harm students and parents, especially OAP. They send their children to school, with the hope that they will be educated and be able to develop Papua, but in reality the problem of payroll hampers the learning process," said Filep.

Moreover, continued the DPD RI member, the Special Autonomy Law has stipulated that the revenue that has been determined for use is based on implementation performance of 1.25% of the national DAU ceiling, 30% is intended for education funding. Even the Oil and Gas DBH is specified in Article 36, that 35% is for education spending.

"DBH Migas Fakfak Regency in 2022 is IDR 29.5 billion. All that remains is to calculate the percentage for education spending. Therefore, I think the problem lies in the coordination between education policy makers in Fakfak. The current generation will be very disappointed if this fundamental problem cannot be resolved effectively and efficiently," said Filep again.

On this issue, Filep hopes that the local Regional Government and other relevant stakeholders can provide a quick response so as not to sacrifice the education of the children in Fakfak.

“There is a right for children to get an education. That is part of human rights, not just OAP human rights, but universal human rights. The government is obliged to fulfill the right to education. Especially if we talk about Otsus. I hope that the Regional Government will move tactically, effectively, to provide certainty to teachers, including providing justice for children whose rights to education have been violated," said Filep's suggestion.

"Especially in PP Number 106 of 2021, education authority has been divided between provinces and districts. Of course it is hoped that the district can maximize the Special Autonomy Fund and its authority. And one of the district's authorities in the PP is guaranteeing welfare and security for educators. We are embarrassed by this condition,” said Filep once again. (*)