by S BIRRUNTHA / pic by BERNAMA
CONGRESS of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) is urging the government to have a long-term plan for teacher recruitment instead of one-off drives to fill shortages of teaching staff.
Cuepacs president Adnan Mat (picture) said the union does not want the current massive recruitment drive to relieve the current teacher shortage and lose sight of the longer goal to recruit teachers who have the right qualities in a challenging profession.
“Teachers need to have deep quality, skills and interest. Cuepacs does not want this massive recruitment to only be able to solve the issue of teacher shortage alone but not give the expected impact,” he said in a statement.
“Currently, many university graduates from the education field are still not getting placements, and if they are eligible, priority should be given to them.”
He said placements should match teachers based on their subject options so that their skills and abilities are used more effectively.
Adnan said the Ministry of Education (MoE) announcing large scale recruitment drive to fill shortages was a welcome effort to fill shortages in certain subjects but it should also be done in stages as and when they are needed.
He said continually filling in vacancies when they arise would prevent the current problem in the long run. Adnan said Cuepacs hopes the MoE will resolve the problem of existing teachers on their transfer applications before giving placements to new teachers.
“It is important to first complete the transfer applications of existing teachers especially for long-distance spouses, as well as those with ailing parents who have serious health problems,” he added.
“The teachers who will be recruited should not be placed in states where there is a demand for higher transfer applications such as Kelantan, Kedah, Terengganu, as it will affect the opportunities of existing teachers who have applied,” he added.
Adnan also hoped that the young teachers recruited would use this opportunity given by the government to educate the nation.
“Set a good example to the students and the community out there so that the teaching profession is praised and held in high esteem.
“You are the successor to the legacy of national excellence in the future. You carry the good name of this public service,” he said.
Last Sunday, Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin announced that the MoE will make a special recruitment of teachers on a “one-off” basis to fill the vacancies faced throughout the country, especially in Sabah, Sarawak, Johor and Selangor.
He said the initiative would involve the recruitment of a total of 18,702 Education Service Officers grade DG41.
The recruitment advertisement will be published on July 7, while the phased placement will begin in October.
Among subjects with teacher shortages in primary schools are English, History, Special Education, Religious Education and Information and Communication Technology, while in secondary schools, the subjects include Bahasa Melayu, English, Islamic Education, Special Education, as well as Design and Technology.
Radzi also mentioned that apart from graduate teachers, the ministry will be looking into hiring those who took specific subjects in universities that could cater to the shortage.
He noted that the MoE would usually prioritise graduate teachers, however, it also wants to make sure that the ministry has enough supply of quality teachers in the country.
Therefore, he said the ministry would look at all candidates who have the best potential and capabilities.