By Karen Bong
KUCHING, May 22: A dedicated committee has been established to monitor teacher vacancies and facilitate prompt replacements in Sarawak, as part of ongoing efforts to address the State’s teacher shortage.
Deputy Minister of Talent Development Datuk Francis Harden Hollis said the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) is fully aware of the situation and working closely with the Ministry of Education (MOE) Malaysia and the Sarawak Education Department (JPNS) to ensure timely interventions and sustainable teacher supply.
“As part of these efforts, a special recruitment exercise under the Contract of Service scheme was carried out in 2024 to hire both education and non-education graduates,” he said during the question and answer session at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly Sitting today.
He was responding to Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap’s query on the measures taken to resolve teacher shortages, improve school facilities, and reduce dropout rates among students from low-income families.
Harden stressed that collaboration with MOE, the Education Services Commission, JPNS, teacher training institutions and local universities remains central to the State’s long-term strategy to ensure teacher placement, particularly in hard-to-reach rural areas.
In addition, he noted that continuous professional development programmes are being supported for non-option teachers, especially in critical subjects like Science, Mathematics and English, to ensure all students receive quality education regardless of location.
He also shared that the ministry is continuing efforts to upgrade and rebuild dilapidated schools throughout Sarawak.
On dropout rates, Harden revealed that ongoing engagement by JPNS with parents and students is bearing fruit, with the number of school dropouts from poor families dropping from 19 in 2022 to just four in 2024.
“JPNS and MOE have also been working with local authorities and community leaders to identify at-risk students and implement appropriate interventions,” he said.
Among the key initiatives, he highlighted the Sarawak Education Enhancement Programme (SEEP), which provides free tuition and mentoring to help students overcome academic challenges and stay in school. — DayakDaily
