By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 11: Sarawak still has a shortage of over 2,000 teachers in primary schools and 184 in secondary schools.
Sarawak Education Department director Datuk Dr Azhar Ahmad revealed this to the media during the 2023 SPM Excellence Appreciation Ceremony held at the Sarawak Education Department Auditorium here yesterday (June 10).
“At the school level, we also still have a shortage for the position of principals and headmasters.
“Currently, we are in the process of filling the vacant positions of the principals and headmasters in all districts,” he said.
Asked whether the power of determining placement of teachers will be given to the State Education Director, he replied in negative.
“So far, the power to appoint the teachers is under the Education Service Commission.
“After the appointment, they will be handed over to the Ministry of Education (MOE) to be placed across the nation, including Sarawak,” he added.
Nevertheless, Azhar said the federal government had devolved some autonomy to him as the Sarawak Education Director to give approval on development projects in Sarawak related to schools sponsored under MOE, the Sarawak government, the private sector and so on.
“We have received a letter from the MOE regarding the matter.
“There is no ceiling value for the projects to be approved.
“The development projects would include the repair and upgrading of dilapidated schools and teachers’ quarters,” he explained. — DayakDaily
