KUCHING: The Sarawak Indigenous Intellectuals Association (Perantis) echoes the sentiment by Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Datuk Dr. Annuar Rapaee, urging the Public Service Commission (SPP) to promptly address the confusion surrounding the recruitment of teachers under the contract of service (COS) system.
Perantis vice president Nelly Tawai, and Women’s Movement leader Robbia Jarup, said there is a need for transparency in the recruitment process, particularly with regard to teacher vacancies in Sarawak.
They stressed that the list of candidates called for interviews should be made public and shared with the Sarawak Ministry of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development (MEITD).
“This special teacher recruitment initiative was designed specifically to address the shortage of primary and secondary school teachers in Sarawak, prioritising graduates from the state. However, it is clear that SPP has not fulfilled this commitment,” Nelly said in a joint statement.
Perantis described SPP’s decision not to prioritise Sarawakian candidates as a ‘tragedy’ for local graduates who had high hopes of securing these positions. The association stressed the importance of giving priority to qualified Sarawakians to ensure that employment opportunities and educational advancements are enjoyed by the local population.
“Local teachers are better equipped to understand the unique challenges, issues, and aspirations of Sarawak’s communities, making them ideal role models and motivators for the students they educate,” she said.
The association also recommended that these qualified locals be trained through programmes at Sarawak’s Institute of Teacher Education (IPG) to contribute to long-term educational improvement in the region.
