REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo greeted school teachers at a gathering in the Senayan Sports Stadium to commemorate National Teachers' Day here on Tuesday.

"I praise the theme of 'Teachers Highly Respected because of Their Work' for this commemoration event. I myself am the result of the hard work of the teachers," he noted in a speech.

President Widodo expressed surprise when informed by Education Minister Anies Baswedan that the teachers who had imparted knowledge to him during his years in junior and senior high school were also present at the event.

"Just now as I entered (the venue), I was taken aback when informed by the education minister Pak (Sir) that your SMP (junior high) and SMA (senior high) teachers are present here. I shook hands with two of them just now," he remarked.

The president then mentioned the names of the teachers. He still remembered them although they had never met for the last four decades.

"She is my biology teacher. I hope it is correct as it has been 40 years. Her name is Bu (mme) Nurhayati," he said, drawing an applause from around 12.5 thousand teachers attending the event as it was right.

He then greeted Parni Satoto, Sudadi, and Bu Ning Minarni, his former chemistry teacher.

"Bu Ning is a chemistry teacher. I received good marks in chemistry. If you do not believe it, just ask Bu Nining. Indeed, many did not believe that I was smart," he said, drawing laughter from the audience.

President Widodo lauded the role played by teachers, emphasizing that he was able to become the president because of them.

At the event, President Jokowi awarded medals of appreciation to the representatives of teachers and educational workers.

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