Inappropriate
These teachers-to-be are compelled to accept their appointment letters out of no choice.
(Sin Chew Daily) – Is there any prospect for a twist of fate in the issue in relation to the transfer of Chinese language teachers from the Sultan Idris University of Education (UPSI)?
Everything looked set but with the cabinet instructing second education minister Idris Jusoh and minister in the PM’s department Wee Ka Siong to deliberate over this in hope of getting the best solution, it now appears that there is a faint chance of seeing things around.
These teachers-to-be are compelled to accept their appointment letters out of no choice. Although I was not there to cover the event, from their facial expressions, it is not difficult to see the disappointment from their faces.
They have waited for four whole years before they can graduate, anticipating that they can now be sent to a SMJK to teach the Chinese language. But unfortunately they are now transferred to vocational schools or boarding schools, or just SRJK.
Indeed the education ministry has the power to transfer a teacher to any school it deems appropriate. Yes, you have the power, but that does not mean you can abuse it. You can transfer teachers, but that does not mean you can do things not in accordance with the professional procedures based on actual needs.
There is no way for the education ministry to transfer an inadequately trained primary school English teacher to teach the language in secondary school or university. In a similar manner, a teacher trained to teach the Chinese language in a secondary school should not be sent to a primary school or a vocational school. The education ministry must keep the best persons at the appropriate places instead of doing things deliberately.
Transferring teachers this way is still acceptable if there is a glut of Chinese language teachers in secondary schools. The thing is, we actually have a deficit of more than 300 Chinese language teachers in SMJKs and SMKs although the education ministry claims such undersupply of Chinese language teachers is non-existent, citing ministry statistics.
To be honest, it doesn’t take too much effort to find out the real picture. The ministry can always instruct the schools to furnish relevant particulars and dispatch some officials to verify the claims.
It is not uncommon to have government statistics vastly differing from the reality. The question is, should the officials trust the non-updated figures or should they trust their own field investigations.?
Unfortunately the director-general of education Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof is more inclined to trust the former, insisting that secondary schools do not lack Chinese language teachers, thus the repeatedly wrong decisions.
The issue of availability of Chinese language teachers in SRJKs and SMJKs is a long-standing question that has seen no prospect for prompt solution, partly due to the government’s over-reliance on inaccurate and outdated statistics.
It is undeniable that the education ministry has not handled the recent teacher transfer issue with due appropriateness. The ministry should admit this reality and make amends. Unfortunately it remains recalcitrant and is least willing to give way.
Those teachers transferred to vocational schools or boarding schools are the most miserable lot because they might be arranged to teach Chinese to non-Chinese students, for which they have not been professionally trained. Alternatively, if these schools do not provide Chinese classes for their students, these teachers may end up teaching subjects they have not been properly trained.
Even though the appointment letters have been issued, the government must still look into the issue of inappropriate teacher transfers, failing which will not only be unfair to the teachers, schools and students involved, but may also erode the ministry’s reputation and image.
