PRESIDENT SIGNS REGULATION ON LECTURER'S ALLOWANCE

Bandung, W Java, May 26 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has signed a government regulation which contains provisions on professional allowances for university lecturers.

The president signed the regulation (PP) on lecturers' allowances after the government had previously issued a similar regulation which stipulated teachers' professional allowance amounting to 100 percent of their basic salaries.

"I want to give lecturers a gift. In the past we have issued a regulation on the right and obligation of teachers. Thank God, I have also signed a regulation on professional allowances for lecturers," President Yudhoyono said in his address at a National Education Day celebration here on Tuesday.

He said that the government regulation which he had signed regulated rights and obligations as well as professional allowances for lecturers.

"In line with the economic improvement and the improvement of civil servants' welfare as well as the implementation of pro-people economic programs, the prosperity of lecturers, teachers and professors could now be increased," Yudhoyono said to the applause of the audience.

Besides containing provisions on lecturers' allowance, special allowance and appreciation allowance, the government regulation also contains provisions on capability conditions and competence that have to be met by a lecturer.