By William Isau
SIBU, Dec 2: The number of applications from Sarawak teachers teaching in West Malaysia and Sabah who want to return to the State, exceeds the number of vacancies available.
Deputy Education Minister Dato Dr Mah Hang Soon said due to this situation, it is difficult to look into their requests. However, he gave his assurance that the ministry will try its best to do so.
Speaking at a press conference after attending a dialogue with the United Association of Chinese Primary Aided Schools Board of Management today, Mah who is here on a two-day working visit said in Sarawak, there are only 50 teaching vacancies available this year against the 250 applications by these outstation Sarawak teachers who are teaching in Chinese primary schools.
He also disclosed that it is not only Sarawak teachers who want to return home but also teachers from West Malaysia who are teaching outstation.
“[For example]… a BM teacher from Kelantan teaching Islamic studies elsewhere. It is almost impossible to transfer him back as there is no vacancy in Kelantan. The best we can do is to send him to a station which is nearest to his hometown such as Northern Perak or Pahang,” he said.
Mah also said the ministry has the well-being of these outstation teachers at heart.
“We actually want to bring them back. We want them to be happy. We don’t want them to be under stress especially during this Covid-19 pandemic period but due to vacancy constraints, it is not easy to transfer them back,” he said.
On the one-off recruitment of 18,702 teachers nationwide, he said the interviews which started on November 16 is half-completed.
“The Education Service Commission will make an announcement on the successful candidates on Dec 6,” he added.
Mah said there were many applicants from Sarawak and in particular Sibu.
“I must say that the awareness and interest of wanting to be a teacher is quite peculiar in Sibu in particular,” he added.
Among the 100 people attending the dialogue was the chairman of United Association of Chinese Primary Aided Schools Board of Management, Temenggong Datuk Vincent Lau. — DayakDaily
