KUCHING – The one-off recruitment exercise to address the teacher shortage in Johor, Sabah and Sarawak is still at the interview stage, said Deputy Education Minister ll Datuk Mohamad Alamin.
He, however, said that, with the intake of 18,000 new teachers, the prolonged shortage suffered over the past few years will be overcome.
“The ministry will give priority to Sabah and Sarawak. Beside the two states, Johor is also experiencing a shortage of teachers,” he told a press conference after a working visit to SK Pendidikan Khas Matang Jaya here today.
At the Dewan Rakyat sitting last week, Education Minister Datuk Mohd Radzi Md Jidin said, based on ministry data, there were 21,564 vacancies for teachers nationwide as of September 19.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Education Department (JPNS) director Norisah Suhaili said of the total 39,000 teachers in the state, less than 1% have yet to receive their Covid-19 vaccination.
“There are teachers who refuse to be vaccinated for health and religious reasons while the rest said they are still unprepared. The ministry will continue to call them up for face-to-face meetings,” she said. – Bernama, October 4, 2021
