KUCHING: Sarawak wants the Ministry of Education (MOE) to recruit more teachers from the state to resolve the teacher shortage issue.
Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen said a group of some 200 aspiring teachers from the state were dismayed when their applications for teaching positions during a recruitment drive last November were unsuccessful due to lack of quota for Sarawakians.
“I find such quota unacceptable, especially when there is a clear lack of teachers in Sarawak on top of the need to increase more local teachers.
Asked Dr Yii: “Where is the ministry’s commitment to fill teacher shortage in the state according to the 90:10 policy that has been agreed for so long?”
He said based on recent reports, Sarawak itself lacked 1,840 primary school teachers and 1,545 secondary school teachers.
“This is a serious shortage, and that begs the question, why is there this quota in the first place if it hinders the issue being addressed?
“If there are vacancies or placements in Sarawak, Sarawakians must be given priority especially if these Sarawakians meet the minimum MOE’s terms and conditions of service.
“That is why we are not asking for any compromise on the quality of the candidates, but for the quota to be relaxed to address the dire shortage of teachers for the sake of the school-going children in Sarawak,” he said in a statement yesterday (June 9).
He stressed that local teachers should be prioritises as they understood the local culture and sentiments better and in most cases stayed a longer term in Sarawak and were most willing to work in rural areas, especially remote interior villages, unlike teachers posted from other states who would likely request for a transfer back after a while.
“That is why, any quota-based rationale or excuses to side line Sarawakians is purely discriminatory, bias and lacks sensitivity.
“That is why I urge MOE to seriously prioritise Sarawakians who have gone through all Contract of Service 2021 teacher recruitment procedures and met all necessary criteria for immediate placement to fill the teacher shortage in Sarawak.
“We do not want our children to suffer and be left behind in their education just because there is insufficient teachers to educate and provide a quality learning environment for them,” he said.
