West Sumatra Provincial Government Highlights Many Teachers Stuck In Loans To Zero Salary

Secretary of the West Sumatra Provincial Education Office, Suryanto, gave a presentation in Padang, Tuesday (27/8/2024). Antara/Fandi Yogari.

PADANG - The Provincial Government of West Sumatra (West Sumatra) highlighted the large number of teachers in the area who were involved or trapped in loans due to excessive consumptive behavior. "It turns out that many teachers are trapped in loans to zero salaries," said Secretary of the West Sumatra Provincial Education Office Suryanto in Padang, Antara, Tuesday, August 27. This was conveyed in commemoration of the peak of Indonesian Day Saving West Sumatra with the theme "Saving for My Indonesia" in Padang. However, Suryanto did not specify in full how many educators were in debt or loans. In fact, currently every teacher, especially those with the status of the state civil apparatus (ASN), has received a teacher professional allowance, namely one month of salary. "So, the consumptive lifestyle is a heavy burden for teachers," said Suryanto. He is worried that if these teachers still prioritize consumptive attitudes, it will be difficult to achieve improving welfare. In fact, the government has paid attention through teacher professional allowances. On that occasion, he conveyed that the Pursuit program was very good because it educated students from an early age to save. The program also trains a person to manage finances well. "Saving is not only a matter of managing money but also teaches us about discipline," he said. Meanwhile, Head of OJK West Sumatra Roni Nazra said the commemoration of Indonesia Saving West Sumatra was an effort to maintain the momentum of awareness of the people in the Minang realm regarding the importance of saving from an early age. Based on the results of the 2024 national literacy and financial inclusion survey conducted by OJK with the Central Statistics Agency, Indonesia's financial inclusion index is 75.02 percent. While the literacy index is 65.43 percent. "This means that out of 100 Indonesian people, 75 of them have used financial products such as deposits, savings, insurance stocks, pension funds and the like," he said.

However, still in the same survey, out of 100 new Indonesian citizens, 65 people are aware of financial service products such as deposits, savings, insurance stocks, pension funds and the like.