Union calls for quality candidates with passion for teaching

Adam Prakash Abdullah

MIRI (July 8): The Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) has called on the Ministry of Education (MoE) to recruit quality candidates with a passion for teaching under its one-off recruitment exercise.

STU president Adam Prakash Abdullah said the union welcomed the ministry’s move to overcome the acute teacher shortage as a quick fix but ultimately it should also ensure that the quality of education for Sarawakians is not compromised .

“This should not be treated lightly as we do not want just anybody to join the teaching profession just to get employed and for self-security,” he said when commenting on the one-off recruitment exercise.

He said MoE must screen the candidates strictly and provide proper teacher training before appointing them to service.

To provide a level playing field, he said STU recommends unemployed graduates from other disciplines be given the opportunity to sit for the qualifying test to become teachers.

“We believe only the qualified graduates will be employed as teachers and only genuine candidates with a great passion for teaching should put in their applications,” he said.

According to Adam, there are currently 3,000 vacancies in Sarawak schools following the posting of graduate teachers; a slight improvement from the shortage of 3,385 teachers – 1,545 in secondary schools and 1,840 in primary schools in April.

He stressed a strict selection committee is critical to ensure only the right candidates get into the teaching profession.

Adam added STU believes the one-off recruitment exercise would also benefit unemployed graduates and the education system looked forward to this group being given a chance to contribute to education and nation-building.

from Borneo Post Online https://bit.ly/3hPgzN9
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