THERE is currently a shortage of 3,076 teachers in Sarawak, of which 819 are for secondary schools and 2,257 for primary schools, the state assembly heard today.
State Education, Innovation and Talent Development Deputy Minister Dr Annuar Rapaee said the federal Education Ministry has given assurance that by middle of next year at least 50% of these vacant teaching posts will be filled.
“My ministry had already met with our federal counterparts in Putrajaya on this critical matter.
“The federal ministry said measures are already in place to fill these vacant teaching posts statewide here.
“They are hopeful that by middle of next year, at least half of the vacancies can be filled,” he said.
He stressed when fielding questions in the house that priority is on filling all the vacant teaching posts in secondary schools and then the primary schools.
Dr Annuar said his ministry had proposed the hiring of unemployed graduates – even for subjects not taught at schools – to be trained as teachers.
This will help ease the shortage, he said.
This is the second time that Dr Annuar had raised this matter openly.
He had earlier this year on October 19 said his ministry had hoped the shortage of teachers can be resolved before the new school year.
This large number of vacant teaching posts statewide has cropped up due to the imminent retirement of many existing teachers as well as those who have been given instructions by the Education Department to transfer to other states, he had said.
“The 3,000 plus vacancies are being made available due to the impending retirement and imminent transfers of teachers very soon as we approach the end of this school year.
“My ministry had been told that the federal Education Ministry will be hiring an additional 9,500 teachers by this November.
“It looks like a big number of then will have to be sent to Sarawak.
“This state must be looked at as first priority due to big number of immediate vacancies coming up,“ he said. – The Vibes, November 24, 2023.
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