Guru PAUD Bertahan Hidup dengan Gaji Rp250.000 per Bulan | People

Summary

The story follows Pak Tri, a male PAUD teacher, who overcame stigma and financial struggles to pursue his passion for early childhood education. Despite initial family resistance and societal perceptions about gender roles in caregiving, Pak Tri dedicated himself to teaching and eventually became a key figure at PAUDoremi. He navigates challenges like low salaries, societal expectations, and the burden of caregiving, all while balancing his work with family life. His journey highlights the undervaluation of early education and the importance of recognizing the role of male educators in nurturing children.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker, Pak Tri, chose to become a PAUD (Early Childhood Education) teacher despite the social stigma and lack of financial rewards associated with the profession.
• 😀 Pak Tri faced skepticism from his family, particularly his late father, who questioned why he chose a profession dominated by women and with low pay.
• 😀 PAUD teachers, especially male ones, are often subject to gender-based stigma, with some considering the profession as 'unmanly' or inappropriate for men.
• 😀 Despite the financial challenges, Pak Tri dedicated himself to teaching at PAUD, even while working at a retail job, and later left the retail job to focus entirely on teaching.
• 😀 The pay for PAUD teachers is low, with some teachers earning as little as Rp250,000 per month, highlighting the disparity in compensation between PAUD and higher education levels.
• 😀 Many PAUD schools are informal, community-based institutions, with a lack of government support and minimal standards, impacting the teachers' welfare.
• 😀 Pak Tri sought additional income through private tutoring and other side jobs to support his family and improve his financial situation.
• 😀 The importance of a supportive spouse was emphasized, as Pak Tri's wife understood the financial limitations of his work and chose to marry him despite these challenges.
• 😀 There is a societal expectation in Indonesia for women to take on caregiving roles, leading to a gendered division of labor, but changes in some parts of the world are slowly challenging these stereotypes.
• 😀 The Indonesian government has recognized the importance of the care economy and has set priorities to improve the quality and accessibility of early childhood education and care services.

Q & A

Why did Pak Tri choose to become a PAUD (early childhood education) teacher despite facing societal stigmas?

Pak Tri chose to become a PAUD teacher because of his passion for working with children. He felt that the profession, while not highly regarded by others, was a calling he could not ignore. He was determined to prove that a male teacher in PAUD could be just as effective as female teachers.

How did Pak Tri's family initially react to his decision to become a PAUD teacher?

Pak Tri's family, especially his father, was initially opposed to his choice to become a PAUD teacher. His father believed that the profession was more suited to women and feared that Pak Tri would be ridiculed or face social stigma.

What challenges did Pak Tri face in the early years of his teaching career?

In the early years, Pak Tri faced significant challenges, including limited resources and low pay. He had to work with minimal facilities, such as using carpets instead of proper furniture, and was paid very little. At one point, his income was dependent on student attendance, meaning if a child did not attend, the teacher received no payment.

What was the tipping point for Pak Tri to leave his stable job and fully commit to teaching PAUD?

The tipping point for Pak Tri was when he decided to attend a PAUD teacher training course at Educ Citra. After completing the course, he realized that teaching was his true calling and chose to leave his stable job in a private company, despite the financial risks.

What financial challenges did Pak Tri face as a PAUD teacher, and how did he supplement his income?

Pak Tri faced significant financial difficulties due to the low salary of PAUD teachers, which was not enough to cover his living expenses. To supplement his income, he started offering private tutoring lessons for children and also took on other side jobs like driving children to and from school.

How does Pak Tri's family dynamic affect his daily life as a PAUD teacher?

Pak Tri's family plays an important role in his daily life. He shares household responsibilities with his wife, who is also a teacher, while also caring for his elderly mother and two children. Despite the challenges, he values spending time with his family and managing both work and domestic duties.

What societal perceptions does Pak Tri face as a male PAUD teacher?

Pak Tri often faces negative stereotypes, such as being called 'feminine' or 'banci' (effeminate) because he works in a profession traditionally dominated by women. These perceptions are rooted in the idea that caregiving roles are primarily suited to women, and Pak Tri's choice to teach PAUD challenges these gender norms.

What does Pak Tri believe needs to change in society regarding the perception of PAUD teachers?

Pak Tri believes that society needs to recognize PAUD teaching as a legitimate and important profession. He hopes that the government and society will improve the welfare of PAUD teachers and offer them the same respect and benefits as teachers in formal education systems.

How does Pak Tri explain the gendered division of labor in society?

Pak Tri explains that the division of labor based on gender has historical roots, with men traditionally assigned productive work and women assigned reproductive and caregiving roles. Over time, these roles have become ingrained in society, leading to a continued gendered division of labor in modern times.

What does the survey on PAUD teachers' salaries reveal about the profession in Indonesia?

A survey by HIMAUDI found that the average salary for PAUD teachers in Indonesia is around 250,000 IDR per month, which is very low and not sufficient to support a family. This highlights the undervaluation of PAUD teachers and their essential role in early childhood education.