94 teachers sent to Indonesian learning centers in Malaysia

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud) has sent 94 teachers to teach Indonesian children at a number of Community Learning Centers (CLCs) in Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia.

According to a report from the Government News Network (JPP) as quoted here on Tuesday, it was the 10^th phase of sending of 94 teachers to Sabah and Sarawak.

To date there are 160 CLCs in these two Malaysian states, which consist of 115 elementary schools and 45 junior high schools.

The Director General of Teachers and Education Personnel of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Supriano, said that not all school-age children in Sabah and Sarawak can go to school because they have to help their parents on plantation areas.

“The number of school-age children in the Malaysian plantation areas is around 50,000, while we can push around 18,000 children for schools,” he explained.

Supriano added that a number of CLC graduates in Malaysia continued their  education to such high learning institutions as the University of Indonesia (UI), the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) and Gadjah Mada University (UGM).

“It means, if our children get proper education, they will have capabilities,” Supriano said.

The salaries received by teachers working at CLCs in Malaysia are adjusted to the level of wages in the neighboring country, which is Rp19.5 million per month (1 US$ = around Rp14.000)

“That includes the costs of housing and food. After two years, we will evaluate the teachers. If the results are good, it will be extended,” he said.

With an additional 94 teachers, the number of teachers at CLCs in Malaysia is now 315.

Reporting by Indonesia Window