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We call on the Education Ministry to be fair to all the teachers, eradicating polarization and bureaucracy so that teachers can be real professionals. Statement by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong on Teachers’ Day with the theme ‘our duty to raise the professionalism of teachers’. 16 May, 2001. | |||||||
| The Teachers’ Day celebration today has been overwhelmed by issues such as the difficulty of high achievers entering universities and the lack of Chinese members in the police and the armed forces. Happy Teachers’ Day for all teachers. The Education Minister Tan Sri Musa says that teachers have to improve themselves to be respected by the public. We hope that teachers will strive harder. But, the minister has to look at their difficulties. There are 154,920 primary school teachers, 55% of whom are in rural areas. However, the gap exists between rural and urban schools. Although we have State Educational Resource Centres and Teacher Activity Centres, teachers still face problems. Last year, 4,648 teachers applied for transfer and 4,215 were accepted. The ministry aims to increase graduate teachers in secondary schools from 69,329 in 2000 to 125,670 in 2005. At the same time, teachers’ training colleges will increase intake from 14,460 in 2000 to 31,310 in 2005. Nevertheless, we are short of teachers. In Chinese primary schools alone, we have at least 3,000 vacancies. For many reasons, the youth do not want to be teachers. FAIR TREATMENT It is complicated to train and keep dedicated and innovative teachers. Hence, the Government has to ensure fair and just treatment. Teachers complain against the promotional | |
and new remuneration scheme. Then, the ministry orders some 100,000 teachers and education officers to declare their assets. Those earning below RM1,500 a month are asking for exemption because they feel that such a measure is unreasonable. Now, 10,000 headmasters are getting RM100 to 150 extra allowance. Then, over 200,000 teachers are asking why can’t they have extra allowances for their contributions? Other unresolved problems include smart schools, catching up with Internet age, teaching of Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin and Tamil as well as teachers and politics. If teachers lean towards Barisan Nasional, they do not face pressure. Some may be rewarded. But, if they sympathize with Barisan Alternatif, they face problems. Why should there be double standard? If the Government bans party political affiliations for teachers, then it should be for all parties. The ministry has not done well with the teaching of languages. It has to improve the teaching of Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Tamil. It destroyed the teaching of English from 1970 to 1982. For over 10 years, the Government has been trying to reverse the trend. Still, it faces an uphill task. The Government must be fair in dealing with all teachers and all measures. It has to create a conducive atmosphere for teachers to improve themselves Dr. Tan Seng Giaw | |||||
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