BY TANIA LAM & VOON YIH BOON
KUCHING: Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong is confident that there will be no shortage of qualified and experienced teachers for the five state-owned international schools as retired teachers will be able to fill this role.
“A lot of teachers every year will become victims of the law because at age 60, it is mandatory for them to retire. However, they are still healthy, strong and mentally fit. These are the people we would like to hire,” he said.
He said this in his speech at the earth-breaking ceremony of Yayasan Sarawak International Secondary School at 12th Mile, Jalan Kuching-Serian here which was officiated at by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg today.
Manyin believed that there were many teachers eligible for early retirement as well.
“So the moment we advertise, I am confident many of them will apply for teaching posts in our international schools.
“As such, we will not have any shortage of qualified, well-trained and experienced teachers,” he said.
He emphasised that the state government understood their challenge and had promised parents that it would provide quality education to their children. According to Manyin, this quality education can only come from quality teachers.
Meanwhile, Yayasan Sarawak director Azmi Bujang said that they were still at the early stage of focusing on the physical development of the international schools.
“Once the time comes, the operator of the schools — Sanjung Services Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Yayasan Sarawak — will start to take in teachers for these schools,” he said.
Azmi hoped that the sites, planning, and infrastructure would be finalised within the shortest possible time frame.
