By DayakDaily Team
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2: A total of 2,113 teaching positions in Sarawak’s schools remain vacant, says Deputy Minister of Education Wong Kah Woh.
According to a report by TVS, he stated that as of October 31, Sarawak has 43,334 allocated teaching positions, of which only 41,221 have been filled.
“This leaves a vacancy rate of 4.88 per cent, with a teacher placement rate in Sarawak currently at 95.12 per cent,” he said during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today, responding to Datuk Ali Biju (PN-Saratok).
Wong shared that the Ministry of Education (MOE) aims to recruit 1,733 new teachers through a special intake programme to address the shortage. The program is open to both education and non-education graduates.
“This recruitment effort is managed by the Education Service Commission (SPP) in collaboration with agencies such as the Public Service Department and the Ministry of Finance,” he explained.
The recruitment advertisement for Sarawak was publicised from August 1 to 23, 2024, and interviews began in October 2024. Results are expected to be announced in early December 2024.
Recruitment, Wong said, will be based on the number of available positions and the success of candidates in the interview process.
The MOE has also adopted several measures, including hiring teachers based on specific subject clusters such as English, Malay, Islamic Education, Chinese Language, and Physical and Health Education to address the shortage.
Additionally, the government has expanded its recruitment pool to include graduates from private and overseas universities.
“This includes appointing non-education graduates as contract teachers, who will undergo the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PDPP) program for one year at the Malaysian Institute of Teacher Education (IPGM).
“For long-term solutions, we will implement the Bachelor of Education Pre-Service Program (PISMP) for graduates of the Malaysian Higher School Certificate (STPM), Malaysian Higher Religious Certificate (STAM), and Matriculation programs in specialised fields to meet the needs of primary school teachers,” he emphasised. — DayakDaily
