Minister: Sarawak still requires at least 1,500 more after placement of 1,108 new teachers

Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn

KUCHING, Dec 23: Sarawak would still require at least 1,500 teachers in various disciplines to fill in the vacant posts after the new placement of 1,108 teachers effective Dec 28, says State Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn.

He stated that the ministry has been discussing the teachers’ shortage issue diligently with all relevant parties, including the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Sarawak Branch Education Services Commission (SPP) and the Sarawak Education Department (JPNS).

On top of that, he said the ministry even brought the matter to the attention of Deputy Prime Minister Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof.

“The placement of 1,108 new teachers in Sarawak is a good start, but this will not resolve the overall issue of teachers’ shortage in Sarawak.

“Based on the Ministry’s engagements with JPNS, SPP and MOE, Sarawak would still require at least 1,500 teachers in various disciplines to fill in the vacant posts,” he said in a statement today.

He further said all parties must address the teachers’ shortage issue holistically.

“As far as the Sarawak government is concerned, through the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) committee, this issue has been prominently discussed, and recommendations have been put forward to MOE and SPP.

“Among them is the delegation of power in recruiting new teachers from SPP to MOE. We hope that swift action will be done by the relevant parties to ensure the issue of teacher shortage in Sarawak is something of the past,” he added. — DayakDaily