Sarawak short of 3,385 teachers as of April this year – Manyin
BY CHURCHILL EDWARD ON SARAWAK
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Dato
Sri Michael Manyin Jawong
KUCHING
(July 1): As of April this year, Sarawak faced a shortage of 3,385 teachers –
1,545 in secondary schools and 1,840 in primary schools, Minister of Education,
Science and Technological Research Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong has
disclosed.
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To address this issue, his ministry is working closely with State Education
Department (JPNS) to engage with Teachers Training Institutes (IPGs) in the
state to come up with the proposal of employing interested graduates as
temporary teachers, he said in a press statement themed ‘Sarawak should produce
own teachers to overcome shortage’ yesterday.
He was reacting to a
statement made by Senator Jaziri Alkaf Abdillah Suffian, who is the Sarawak
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chief, which was published
on June 21 in the Malay Mail Online and also the statement by
Democratic Action Party (DAP) Long Lama branch chairman Marcus Hugo Matu Lejau published
on June 21 in the Borneo Post Online.
The
recruitment of these temporary teachers must go through qualifying test
(psychometric test) and interview conducted by JPNS and IPGs, Manyin said.
Those
who passed and are selected will be required to undergo six months of practical
teaching in schools during which they will be assessed by IPG lecturers and the
schools.
Those
who are found to be suitable, really interested in teaching, passionate,
committed and with the correct aptitude will be recommended and offered to do
Diploma in Education at an IPG for a period of one and half year on a part-time
basis while teaching.
Upon
completion of this course, those who fulfil all the requirements will be
awarded Diploma in Education which will qualify them to be appointed as DG41
trained teachers, both in secondary and primary schools, he added.
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If this proposal is accepted by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Manyin said
the state authorities are confident in resolving the issue of shortage of
teachers throughout Sarawak within the next three years.
“We
had discussed this proposal a few times with officers from MOE since 2019 and
also with the Senior Minister of Education in April 2021. In addition, we had
also made a follow-up through letter dated April 14, 2021 to the Senior
Minister of Education, and a similar proposal was sent to YAB Prime Minister
through a letter signed by YAB Chief Minister dated May 6, 2021.
“Even
though we have not received an official reply from MOE, the fact is that, one
of the strategies or approaches taken by MOE as announced by the Senior
Minister recently is very similar with our proposal,” he said.
Apart from addressing all the issues, the Ministry of Education, Science and
Technological Research also introduced programmes like leadership course for
school leaders attended by 1,265 headmasters, and 1,265 senior assistants,
which cost the state government about RM2.5 million; various refresher courses
for teachers at a cost of about RM1 million; Sarawak English Language Education
symposiums (Seles) for northern, central and southern regions attended by about
2,500 participants at a cost of RM2.5 million; teaching of science and
mathematics in English in all public primary schools starting from Primary 1 in
2020 incurring a cost of RM11 million; and provision of teaching and learning
materials to schools at the cost of RM5.8 million.
Others
include the connection of electricity supply to 125 rural schools with an
allocation of RM50 million (currently under various stages of implementation);
connection of treated water supply to 41 rural schools with an allocation of
RM9 million, of which 35 have been completed thus far; and provision of
computers (Raspberry Pie) for all primary schools throughout Sarawak at the
cost of RM12 million, he said.
“Due
to the Covid-19 pandemic, this project (provision of computers – Raspberry Pie)
is slightly delayed. We are targeting to complete the project before end of
2021.
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“We are fully aware of all the issues and problems pertaining to education in
Sarawak. Our minister is not new to these issues, as he has been a teacher and
school principal for 25 years before entering politics. He was also once on the
interview panel for Teachers Training Colleges’ intake in Sarawak in 1975 and
1983. Thus, he knows very well the ins and outs of education issues.
“As
suggested by the Senator, we can produce our own teachers provided that we are
given the authority and better still given full autonomy over education.
Therefore, we would like to urge the Senator to convey to his colleagues at the
federal level the aspirations of Sarawakians to have authority in education.
“If
the Senator and DAP Long Lama chairman have any more better proposals or ideas
with regard to education in Sarawak, they are most welcome to discuss with us
instead of going to the media without genuine fact,” the statement pointed out.
This is obvious that this 59-year-old BN-GPS government has no ability to deliver their duty as far as education for Sarawak is concerned. They have been in power for too long.
It is the Malaya government, the colonial masters are doing thisis to force this puppet-like-GPS government to submission on purpose
to break the ratio 90% Sarawakians: 10 Malaya teachers by ex-CM Adnan Satem.
Do you still want to keep this government which is so corrupt and ever-ready
to collude with the colonial masters for their self-interest and posts? Alamak!
What a curse! What a pity! What a shame!
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