Pemuda PBB unhappy with Education Service Commission’s inclusion of non-Sarawakians in special recruitment drive

KUCHING (Oct 7): The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Youth wing (Pemuda PBB) has expressed deep disappointment with the Education Service Commission (SPP) for including candidates from outside Sarawak in its special recruitment drive for teaching vacancies.

Pemuda PBB said this is despite earlier assurances that only Sarawakians would be considered.

The youth wing criticised SPP for breaking its promise and accused the commission of treating Sarawakians unfairly by not prioritising local candidates.

The party also questioned whether SPP’s decision was because it doubted the capabilities of Sarawakians to fill teaching vacancies in their own state.

“The teaching vacancies should be prioritised for Sarawakians who are looking to serve in the education sector within their home state,” Pemuda PBB said in a statement today.

Pemuda PBB pointed out issues faced by non-Sarawakian teachers posted to rural areas, many of whom struggle with homesickness and requested transfers back to their hometowns, disrupting the education system.

According to the PBB youth wing, Sarawakians are not only capable but also eager to serve in schools, including in remote areas.

“The significant number of Sarawakians applying for the positions proves there is local interest in addressing the state’s teacher shortage,” said Pemuda PBB.

According to Pemuda PBB, SPP’s decision reflected the larger problem of federal bureaucracy hindering development in Sarawak’s education sector.

It called on the federal Education Ministry to intervene and ensure that Sarawakian candidates are given priority in the hiring process, as originally intended.

“The special recruitment drive is meant to address the teacher shortage in Sarawak, which is becoming increasingly critical,” said Pemuda PBB, adding swift action must be taken to resolve the issue.

Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn told a press conference in Sibu yesterday that the over 1,700 candidates shortlisted for interviews under the special recruitment programme include 300 non-Sarawakians with teaching qualifications from outside the state.

The minister expressed his disappointment with SPP’s decision as the special recruitment programme was supposed to be exclusively for Sarawakians.

He pointed out the recruitment drive received almost 16,000 applications from Sarawakians and another 2,000 applications from other parts of the country.

Face-to-face interviews for the recruitment drive to fill 1,733 vacancies will be held in Kuching, Sibu, and Miri from today until Thursday.