Job Discussion Forums

[reog]

I got into an altercation with a government official in the middle of an exam yesterday.


I was monitoring an exam at St. Thomas in Medan, and about 15 minutes into the exam a government official walked into the classroom and started speaking to students.

Although I attempted to stop him, we got into a shouting match in front of the students about his bad timing, and I figured it was better to let him talk. I figured I could just tag another 5 minutes on to the end of the exam, and informed the students of this.

He then explained to students that if they wanted their marks they would have to give him money.

After finishing, he turned back to me, reminded me that I was not the �pemimpin�, that he was government, and that he didn�t have to leave the classroom, I did!

After confirming whether or not he was instructing me to leave the classroom (he was), I left�informing him that he would then be in charge of monitoring the remainder of the exam.

After contacting my employer (an agent), and being asked (by her) to return to the classroom, I informed her that I had been removed from the classroom by a government official, had been informed that I was not the�pemimpin�, and that I would not return to the class until a school official instructed me to do so. (This is because after 5 months at the school, nobody has officially taken charge of me and the only information I get about holidays, marks, and rules is from students)


Needless to say, I have created yet another Indo-controversy, but I am interested in knowing whether or not it�s true that Indonesian law forbids government officials from entering the classroom.

Any info that anyone could provide to help bring either me or the school up-to-date would be appreciated.

[laughing_magpie06]

As far as I know it is illegal to enter a classroom and the reception desk should stop them at that point. Now most likely they intimidated the desk (which may have been staffed by a meek and mild young lady) and proceeded anyway. Then in the classroom they would assume Mr Bule isn't smart enough to know his rights in their country and continued the intimidation process by threatening deportation or a night in the cells. Problem is who is going to back you up in this case? You would certainly be in deep #### if you didn't have your KITAS in order as many new teachers maybe. The most unfortunate thing is Indonesian law is flexible and the highest bidder usually wins.

[reog]

Hi Magpie,

Thanks for the reply, but how sure are you about this?

While my immediate supervisor (at the agency that placed me) and the school principal tend to be on my side (but only perhaps), the director of the agency that placed me at the school is clearly on the side of the "government official"--and with one month left on my contract, now is not the time to fight a meaningless battle.

As it turns out, the person who entered the class only identified himself as government--he was actually a school official.


B:)

[laughing_magpie06]

Well sorry to say it but if this person was working for the school you are pretty well MOD EDIT

[reog]

Well. . . . .

As it turned out it wasn't the school that was upset with me. The principal, who I spoke with a lot about the situation, just kept repeating over and over that it was "all a misunderstanding"--and I believed him.

My manager, who liases between the school and my employer, agreed with my decision to remove the person from the testing environment.


However my employer, MOD EDIT: NO NAMES. REPEAT = SANCTION ordered me to remove this original post (which I refused to do because it included no names) and finally used the situation as a reason not to renew my contract--which came to an end one month later.


At that point, after 11 months of working together with no problems (that I was aware of), MOD EDIT decided not to fulfill the obligations outlined in our contract or arrange for my exit permit.

Calling in the assistance of the Labour Department (Manpower) did little to encourage him to pay me or assume the responsibility of arranging an EPO--in fact he hung up on them when they called the first time.

It was only after I contacted the Department of Immigration directly that someone was able to help--and even that required immigration officials order him to come into the office to sign the necessary papers after they got tired of waiting for him.

Even though MOD EDIT was informed that I had to leave the country by yesterday (Feb. 20), he has ignored my every attempt to initiate contact by phone, SMS, or e-mail in order to arrange for the payment of unpaid wages, insurance, overtime, bonuses or airfare totalling 30million rupiah.

And in the end, I had to contact lawyers to arrange payment of the outstanding money.

[phis]

@reog: all the above is a gross distortion of the truth. I know because I was a passive bystander to the 'pantomime'.

In fact, at the end of your contract, (it was the end of your contract, you were not terminated prematurely), you were paid all the monies due to you, even before surrendering your passport for the issuance of an EPO. For whatever reason, you threw the money back and refused to hand over the passport. You then spent the ensuing month throwing up any and every obstacle in the path of a reasonable solution; the primary one of these being a refusal to hand in your passport so that the EPO could be issued.

The school was in continual contact with the authorities throughout this unnecessary and protracted (by you) drama, and was following their advice as to what should be done. In addition, they responded to all your increasingly hysterical and often incomprehensible emails, text messages, etc., until towards the end, when they were advised not to do so, as yours were becoming more and more unreasonable and abusive. I was shown these messages, as were a number of other people, so it is useless claiming that a two way correspondence did not take place.

Finally, the school could not order you out of the country. This would be done by the authorities as soon as the EPO was issued.

I am not on anyone's side in this sort of dispute, but I am not willing to stand aside when outright lies are broadcast on this website. I also thought it was an infringement of the rules to name people here!!

PS: The final decision not to renew your contract was made AFTER the principal of St Thomas refused to have you back, because of a number of other 'incidents' involving you.

Please note that I haven't 'named' you, as a number of potential future employers may read this site. However, I was sorely tempted to do so! There are many justified claims of ill-treatment by schools out there that need to be addressed, but false claims like yours do not help your fellow teachers.