KUCHING: The federal Ministry of Education (MoE) and Education Service Commission (SPP) are employing additional batches of teachers through a special recruitment initiative in a significant move to address the shortage of teachers in Sarawak.
Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the recruitment is specifically designed to attract qualified undergraduates to join the teaching profession in Sarawak.
“It will start from tomorrow. The advertisement for the recruitment will start in August in SPP official portal. Candidates must submit their applications online via MySPP.
“SPP will screen the applications. And qualified candidates will proceed to the Teacher Candidates Qualification Test (UKCG), which assesses the character, personality, interest, suitability, psychological and mental health of the person.
“Then they will conduct a face-to-face interview in the second week of September and the results of your application will be announced sometime in October or November,” Sagah told a press conference on the new recruitment initiatives and updates to address teacher shortage issues in Sarawak today.
Successful candidates will be placed in the respective schools probably in November or December.
“Therefore, our ministry in Sarawak, MEITD and the state Education Department will conduct roadshows throughout Sarawak to promote the vacancies. These roadshows will cover district education offices (PPDs), providing comprehensive information on their recruitment. The roadshows will also provide guidance for candidates,” he added.
Earlier, Sagah said that based on the current status of shortage of teachers based on the state Education Department (JPNS) by the end of this year, Sarawak will face a shortage of 2,373 teachers.
“But now, the SPP is on a recruitment exercise. Actually, they are interviewing several of those applicants. And we expect that with this interview and the recruitment exercise later on, together with placement by the MoE, which is between July and November of this year, we expect this number to be reduced to 1,130,” he said.
He said all 30 PPDs have the vacancies with the top six being Serian, Daro, Kapit, Subis, Seratok, and Betong.
“Each has over 100 vacancies. The largest vacancies by subjects are in English, Mathematics, Pendidikan Moral, Pre-school, Bahasa Melayu, and Remedial Classes.
“Additionally, there are also vacancies in 22 other option subjects, including those in the Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina, for the Chinese course,” he added.
Elaborating further, he said the successful candidates will receive a two-year contract and undergo a self-funding Diploma in Education at the Teachers Training Colleges, IPGM, through Kursus Dalam Cuti.
“So, upon obtaining the diploma, when they graduate later on, they will be offered a permanent teaching position,” he said.
He also said that the special recruitment for Sarawak prioritises candidates from the area where vacancies are available.
“Thus, I encourage fellow Sarawakians with a bachelor’s degree, any bachelor’s degree, from local or private institutions, and still unemployed, to seize this opportunity and submit your application starting from tomorrow,” said Sagah.
