SERIAN: Sarawak’s special teacher recruitment drive may continue next year, depending on the availability of vacancies in schools.
Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the current recruitment exercise is still ongoing, with offers yet to be finalised.
He noted that the state would first evaluate the situation before holding further discussions with the Education Service Commission (SPP) and the Ministry of Education (MoE).
“If there are still a lot of vacancies in the schools, we will certainly negotiate again with the SPP and the MoE to carry out another recruitment exercise.
“We don’t know yet if we would implement the same as this year because it has not been completed,” he said.
He said this when met at the sidelines after officiating the Pesta Danu Serian 2024 at Taman Danu Serian last night (Nov 22).
The special teacher recruitment drive, launched this year due to an ongoing teacher shortage of 2,000 to 3,000 annually since 2017, aimed to fill 1,733 vacancies.
Over 15,000 applicants expressed interest, with 2,010 shortlisted for final interviews in Kuching, Sibu, and Miri.
Meanwhile, the results of the recruitment drive are expected to be announced before the year ends, allowing newly-appointed teachers to receive placements ahead of the next school year.
Sagah during a press conference after delivering his ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) recently said that the outcome would be clearer once the SPP makes an official announcement.
He also addressed concerns over non-Sarawakian candidates being included in the recruitment, stating that while it couldn’t be guaranteed 100 per cent of recruits would be Sarawakians, priority should be given to local candidates.
The SPP has agreed to consider these concerns, he added.
