Sarawak short of 3,385 teachers as of April this year – Manyin

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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