KUCHING: A decision of the Education Ministry not to close the 21 institutes of teacher education (ITE) in the country is strongly supported by the Congress of Unions of Teachers in the Malaysian Education Service.
Its president, Anuar Hussin, said the teacher training system and additional training still requires the institutes as the agent of implementation, and they also provide refresher courses to revive the teaching spirit.
“The institutes are still relevant as primary school teachers training centres in the country because a majority of the lecturers are former school teachers. They have been through the same process in their former schools so their experiences can be used to train future teachers,” he said.
“It is a hands-on experience and not just theory based. Lecturers at the institutes have expertise which is needed to train the next generation of teachers. We don’t want them to be just knowledgeable about theories. They need experience as without it they cannot be passionate about teaching.
“We support maintaining the institutes because throughout the years they have produced many good teachers. Our congress believes that only a teacher can train another teacher,” he said in a press conference after a dinner gathering last Saturday night at Penview Hotel in Pending.
Anuar also pointed out that the institutes are capable of helping to implement any training programmes organised by the ministry.
He, therefore, congratulated the teachers who supported Dr Maszlee on the decision not to close down the institutes across the country for the sake of future development of the country’s education system.
Also present at the dinner were Sarawak Teachers Union (STU) president Macky Joseph, Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union (KGBS) Ahmad Malie, West Malaysia Malay Teachers Union (KGMMB) president Jasni Md Kechick, West Malaysia National Religious Teachers Union (KKGAMB) president Muhd Fadhli Jusoh and Sabah Teachers Union (KGKS) president Hussin Basir.
