A total of 2,393 teachers were recruited for the state under the one-off teachers recruitment exercise last year to address the shortage of teachers in Sarawak.
Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn said Sarawakians make up 766 of the total number of teachers recruited.
“Baleh assemblyman (Nicholas Kudi Jantai) has raised this issue in his debate. We are indeed very concerned on the shortage of teachers in the state.
“As education is under the federal government’s purview, which includes the hiring and transfer of teachers, our hands are tied.
“However, we have made several recommendations and proposals to the Ministry of Education (MOE) to solve the issue, and we are pleased to report that some of these solutions have been accepted by MOE.
“Among them is the one-off teachers’ recruitment exercise in 2021,” he said in his ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today.
Sagah added that his ministry has also submitted another proposal to the prime minister and MOE to alleviate the teacher shortages in Sarawak.
“We sincerely hope that the federal government, led by the prime minister, would take our suggestion seriously so that the issue of teacher shortages in Sarawak can be resolved amicably,” he pointed out.
On the other hand, he emphasised that the duties of teachers and school leaders are equally vital, which is why the state has prioritised teachers’ Continuous Professional Development (CPD).
According to him, the major goals of these CPDs are to strengthen teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge, increase teacher professionalism, enhance subject teaching and learning effectiveness as well as provide teachers with innovative teaching methods and resources.
“It is hoped that in the long run, these would help improve our students’ performance,” he said.
Sagah added since 2020, the ministry has been collaborating with teachers education institutes (IPGs), Aminuddin Baki Institute Sarawak Branch, Jemaah Nazir Sarawak and state Education Department to implement these CPD programmes, with over RM1 million spent for this purpose.
“In 2021, 3,600 teachers were involved. My ministry will continue to support our teachers’ CPD needs, with more face-to-face training planned, particularly for those who have yet to participate in any courses,” he said.
