By Ashley Sim and Shikin Louis
LUNDU, Oct 8: Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg will delegate negotiations over the Education Service Commission’s (SPP) ‘U-turn’ move on the special teacher recruitment programme to the Minister of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development (MEITD) Sarawak.
Abang Johari stated that the initial understanding was to prioritise Sarawakian candidates for the new intake, ensuring that local educators are given preference to fill teaching vacancies in the State.
However, according to multiple reports, SPP has decided to open the interview qualification for the special teacher recruitment programme to other parts of Malaysia.
“New recruitment of trainee teachers was supposed to be from Sarawak only, but suddenly, they (SPP) changed their mind and opened it up for Peninsular Malaysian candidates as well.
“It’s not that we are against teachers from Peninsular Malaysia, but we want to prioritise local teachers to reduce transfer requests.
“The problem with hiring non-Sarawakians is that they often request transfers back to their home states after only a few years. If they are Sarawakians, they won’t ask for transfers outside the State.
“At most, they will request to move within Sarawak, from Dalat to Sarikei, for instance,” he told reporters during a press conference held following the ‘Majlis Pelancaran Aviation Academy’ today at the Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (Centexs) Lundu here.
Meanwhile, MEITD minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, highlighted that 15,000 Sarawakians had applied for the programme, showcasing a strong interest and need for local candidates to fill these positions.
“We had already arranged for this special recruitment exercise to benefit Sarawakians, and it was agreed upon. Now, they’ve opened it up to non-Sarawakians, and I’m not happy about that,” he said. — DayakDaily
