'TRANSFER BACK SABAH TEACHERS'

KOTA KINABALU: Teachers should be posted to their states of origin with the aim of raising the standards of education in their own backyard.

Most of the participants especially educators and leaders of Parents and Teachers Associations (PTAs) made this suggestion at a dialogue on the National Education Blueprint 2012 at 1Borneo Hypermall, Saturday.

If adopted, they said the placement of teachers would enhance education performance as well as quality in the respective states as what had been proven in Terengganu.

Some told the blueprint panel that Terengganu's education and academic performances are in the top rank now because their qualified teachers are the local people themselves, who understand the customs, way of life, and the overall situation in the State, which has led to the enhancement of academic performances in schools.

In addition, the local teachers have better communication with the students and understand the students' needs and interests in education.

"If such situation could happen in Terengganu, then why not also in Sabah? I am not being parochial here but I believe it would be best to transfer back all Sabah teachers in the peninsula to the State here and have them educate our children and students.

"Hopefully, then, our education performances in Sabah would also be as good as Terengganu," said one of the participants.

The dialogue aimed to compile feedback and proposals to be submitted to the Ministry to be considered in preparing the National Education Blueprint 2012.

About 30 to 50 participants comprising educators, public, community leaders, school leaders, professionals, political leaders, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and relevant quarters took part in the dialogue.

Another PTA chairman highlighted he often heard grouses from peninsula teachers serving in Sabah that they want to go back and vice versa from Sabah teachers serving the peninsula.

He said these teachers also complained that the Ministry would take time to process their transfer applications.

Hence, he hoped the Ministry would consider this proposal as it is an important factor to improving the quality of education.

Following this, the panel head Tan Sri Dr Wan Mohd Zahid Mohd Noordin, who was assisted by Datuk Kamal D.E. Quadra, acknowledged the need to enhance the efficiency level in processing transfer applications as many had complained about being in the wait list for quite some time.

The panel comprising 11 members is compiling all suggestions and proposals nationwide from April 29 to July 14 before submitting them to the Ministry.

A headmaster of SK Sugud, Penampang, meanwhile, proposed that new teachers graduating from higher learning institutions be given mentoring for one year before they fully handle the teaching job on their own.

"There is a need to observe the teaching methods of these new teachers and give them proper guidance," he said.

A number of participants also asked for the housing allowance of the Sabah and peninsula teachers to be the same so as to be fair.

Presently, he said the housing allowance of peninsula teachers serving in Sabah is higher compared to the Sabah teachers posted to the peninsula.