ON PUBLIC COMPLAINTS ABOUT TEACHERS, THE DIRECTOR ADVISED THOSE WHO WISH TO LODGE COMPLAINTS TO BE SPECIFIC. "THIS WILL ENABLE THE DEPARTMENT TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.

KL check confirms teachers do Lepak

Published on: Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Kota Belud: A recent visit of the School Inspectorate from the Education Ministry in Kuala Lumpur confirmed suspicions that teachers in some Sabah schools are fond of playing truant.

Some ditched their responsibilities and booked their flights early to the peninsula long before the school holidays began.

"Our department is awaiting an official report from the I spectorate on its findings before taking necessary action.

From now, the State Education Department will be more serious in dealing with disciplinary cases in schools under the department," said State Education Director, Dr Hj Muhiddin Yasin.

Dr Muhiddin was responding to a query by Daily Express, which received complaints of this nature. Speaking after closing the "Towards Academic Excellence" programme at SMK Arshad, here, he said teachers are not allowed to leave their school before the school term holidays begin.

According to parents who contacted the Daily Express, some teachers from the Peninsula who are serving in island schools in Sabah went back even before the second school term holidays began. According to the parents, the teachers concerned left their school as early as May 24 when the school holidays only begin on June 5.

Dr Muhiddin said the department was serious in its efforts to improve the standard of education in Sabah schools.

Among the disciplinary cases that will be seriously dealt with is absenteeism among both teaching and non-teaching staff either at the department, in the District Education Office (PPD) or in school.

"Absence from work without permission and under-performance will not be tolerated. I urge all officers, teachers and non-teaching staff members under the department to perform their best in discharging their tasks and responsibilities.

"Whoever does something that is contrary to the rules and regulations will be dealt with accordingly," he said.

"If proven true, they (teachers) will be dealt with accordingly, regardless of who they areÉbased on the current General Orders (Bab C) of the Civil Service.

"We cannot let this kind of thing prolong. Whenever we get an official report of non-attendance of teachers with specific details, we will take disciplinary action, depending on the severity of the case.

"For absence from work, their salary could be deducted.

That is an administrative procedure based on the General Orders (Bab C).

In the past, we had taken such action but I don't have the number off hand.

"Besides salary deduction, we can also take disciplinary action," the Director explained. Previously, the department had received complaints from the public and parents on the absence of teachers during school hours.

However, Dr Muhiddin said action could not be taken for the most part because the complaints were not specific in that no name and date or dates were provided.

"Disciplinary action involves rules and regulations and would definitely have legal implications. For those complaints bearing the names of the teachers or non-teaching staff, and the dates on which they were absent from work, the department had taken either administrative or disciplinary action or both against the teachers or non-teaching staff members concerned," he said.

However, Dr Muhiddin said it is not correct to say that those who play truant are West Malaysian teachers as some are locals.

He urged all heads of departments to supervise their subordinates.

"Action should be taken against those who are absent from work without permission or not performing their job entrusted to them."

While sympathising with those working in the remote areas, Dr Muhiddin said there is no excuse for one to be absent from work without permission or to take their responsibilities lightly whether they are teachers or government servants.

The Disciplinary Board is in place at different levels - the Sabah level and also at the Federal Ministry level.

"Action to be taken is based on the category of officers.

If they are non- graduate teachers, then they are subjected to action taken by the disciplinary board in the State Education Department.

"But if the errant officers belong to the Professional and Management category, only the disciplinary board in the Public Services Department (JPA) is empowered to act."

Dr Muhiddin said some teachers had been expelled in the past but the State Education Department was not empowered to do so.

"This form of punishment would depend on the severity of the offence in question.

Such action would be taken by the Education Ministry upon recommendation by the department."

On public complaints about teachers, the Director advised those who wish to lodge complaints to be specific.

"This will enable the department to take appropriate action.

However, please bear in mind that not all problems can be solved immediately.

A complaint needs to be investigated and only after it is verified as genuine, can the department follow the standard disciplinary procedures."