Recruiting more teachers should not be at expense of quality, reminds Kota Sentosa rep

KUCHING (Aug 1): The hiring of an additional batch of teachers to address the shortage of teachers in Sarawak should not compromise quality, Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap has cautioned.

According to a post on Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Kota Sentosa Facebook page, Yap lauded that steps are being taken to address the issue.

“However, in our haste and on a note of caution, this recruitment exercise should not be at the expense of quality,” he said.

On July 31, Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Dato Sri Roland Sagah announced that a special recruitment programme will hire an additional batch of teachers to address the remaining shortage of teachers in Sarawak, starting August 1.

Referring to a World Bank report ‘Bending Bamboo Shoots: Strengthening Foundation Skills’, Yap said it showed a concerning picture of Malaysia’s education system.

“Despite significant spending (3.2 per cent of GDP), student learning outcomes lag behind expectations.

“Only 58 per cent of students in Malaysia are proficient in reading by the end of Standard 5, significantly worse than regional peers (34 per cent struggle in similar economies),” said Yap.

He stated that, given the poor quality of education compared to other countries and even losing out to Vietnam, the Sarawak government should seriously consider adopting the Finnish model, where teachers are highly educated professionals and crucial pillars of a society built on equal opportunities and a lifelong passion for learning.

“Finland’s education system, mostly based on democratic principles, is considered the best in the world, based on international rankings.

“Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) test scores show that Finland’s reading scores are high.

“Finnish teacher education focuses on independent problem-solving and is constantly developed to keep up with the rapid changes in technology and society,” said Yap, adding that Finland, known as the happiest country, excels in education by valuing teachers as key to successful learning and empowering them to innovate.

He also suggested re-evaluating the current policy on low enrolment schools (SKM) to ensure efficient and productive utilisation of teacher resources.

Yap hopes the relevant ministry will focus on developing progressive education policies that prioritise the quality of teachers and educational outcomes over mere quantity.