Written by: Averroes
(1.0) Introduction
Beginning the 7th of July, the Ministry of Education (MoE) announced that they will be hiring 18,702 DG41 grade teachers through a special one-off recruitment drive. The actual placements takes place in October.
(1.1) Reasons for lack of teachers
Among the reasons would include that, there were minimal numbers of candidates from the Institutes of Teacher Education (IPG) and the mismatch of subject options (equilibrium between the designated subjects).
(1.2) States that lack the number of teachers
This is evident when four Malaysian states lack the number of teachers. They are;
i) Selangor
ii) Johor
iii) Sabah
iv) Sarawak
(1.3) Views of Sarawak
Additionally, there are teachers who are demotivated to teach in rural areas, especially in Sarawak. The lack of teachers and facilities remains a constant hurdle due to the size of Sarawak as the largest state in Malaysia.
This poses challenges such as non-traversable roads, which reluctant teachers use the excuse of having to use water transportations, including boats on rivers to reach their schools. According to the Sarawak State Education, Science and Technological Research Minister, Michael Manyin Jawong, there was a shortage of 30% English teachers.
That would constitute 2,200 teachers both in primary and secondary schools in Sarawak. Though, other sources citing him said it reached 3,000.
According to Sarawak Teacher's Association, Adam Prakash Abdullah states that Sarawak could gather more teachers outside the state to address the acute shortfall. The Malaysian IPGS only produce 300 trained teachers annually which does not comply with the supply and demand.
The vacancies in Sarawak could be filled with trained teachers from Peninsular Malaysia temporarily. He also blamed that the 90% policy for only local Sarawakians to be teachers is also another reason for lack of teachers.
However, encouraging local teachers is a good approach, though in contrast, the policy has to be reviewed to improve the quality of education in Sarawak, since it also contributed the lack of teachers in the state.
(2.0) Importance of adequate number of teachers
Education is important for the future of a child. Learning English for example and other subjects would help them secure a brighter career and life. Education is what builds a civilized and enhances the development of a country or society.
Without education, the progress of a country's advancement would be stagnant, if not face degradation over time. We need future leaders, starting from such a young age to manage the affairs of our country soon.
(3.0) Subjects with limited teachers
These are the subjects in Primary School with limited number of teachers
i) English
ii) History
iii) Islamic Studies
iv) Special Education Programme
In secondary school on the contrary, the subjects with the lack of teachers are;
i) Bahasa Melayu
ii) English
iii) Islamic Education
These subjects might have limited number of teachers, because other subjects are already overcrowded. Therefore, there is no equilibrium between the supply and demand for the subjects.
(4.0) The recruitment drive
According to the Education Minister, Datuk Dr. Radzi Jidin, the MoE will be cooperating with the Education Services Commission (SSP) and Public Service Deparment (JPA) to ensure that the hiring programme would be smooth as possible.
Though, getting hired is not only limited to those teaching degrees, but also from those other fields if they are compatible with the job. This would mean, despite more focus are given on those graduated with degrees, a holistic approach would be taken to consider others from different educational backgrounds as new teachers.
(5.0) Issue on spot-checks
During the month of Ramadan, there were incidents of period spot-checks conducted on female students at school. That is a violation of a student's dignity, modesty and honor.
The Ministry went into the final stage of establishing an independent committee to observe procedures when catering to the complaints of spot-checks. The existence of an independent committee could ensure a transparent and structure mechanism to address the issue
Students have claimed that they have to remove their undergarments as proof that they were not menstruating during the month of Ramadan as to be exempted from fasting.
References;
Ashman Adam (June, 2021) Education Ministry to address teacher shortage in Malaysia schools with one-off recruitment drive for 18,702 new hires. Retrieved from, https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2021/06/20/education-ministry-to-address-teacher-shortage-in-malaysia-schools-with-one/1983551
Bernama (2021, June) Large-scale recruitment to address teacher shortage. Retrieved from, https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/06/20/large-scale-recruitment-to-address-teacher-shortage/
Thomas, J. (2021, April) Lack of staff, facilities hampers teaching of English in rural Sarawak. Retrieved from, https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/04/23/lack-of-staff-facilities-hampers-teaching-of-english-in-rural-sarawak/
Kiew, P. (2021, June) Union calls for urgent recruitment of teacher-trainees, teachers from outside Sarawak. Retrieved from, https://www.theborneopost.com/2021/05/10/union-calls-for-urgent-recruitment-of-teacher-trainees-teachers-from-outside-sarawak/
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