By Jacob Achoi
SERIAN, Oct 14: The retraining of teachers to teach Mathematics, Science and English subjects will start next month, says Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong.
He said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has approved RM6 million for the programme.
Manyin said all four Teachers’ Training Institutes (IPG) in the state — IPG Samarahan, IPG Batu Lintang, IPG Rajang in Sibu and IPG Miri— will be involved in the programme.
“For the retraining of teachers to teach Mathematics, Science and English, the programme to involve only teachers from Sarawak, will start by next month, and the retraining programme will take about six weeks,” Manyin told reporters today after officiated at the Serian District Education 2020 Leadership Colloquium at a hotel here.
Manyin pointed out that the shortage of teachers for the three subjects was due to the distribution of teachers to schools with less pupils (Sekolah Kurang Murid or SKM).
“I will like to stress here that there is no shortage of teachers for Mathematics, Science and English.
“But the problem arises because of the SKM, so the distribution of (teachers) is difficult and as a result some schools don’t have enough teachers for certain subjects, but some schools have more teachers for one or two subjects.
“And given such situation, the teachers were asked to teach the three subjects, which are not their option, thus resulting in the shortage,” he explained.
According to Manyin, there are 651 SKM across the state. He added 55 per cent of the teachers teaching the three subjects were not trained to do so.
He also pointed out that trainers from other states for the retraining programme may be roped in if the four IPG could not cope.
Earlier in his speech, Manyin said nearly 3,000 teachers were not trained to teach the three subjects.
Also present at the event was Serian district Education officer Jimali Sunang. — DayakDaily
