AUTONOMOUS EDUCATION POWER FOR SABAH DOES NOT ARISE - PUAD

Puad: Autonomous education power for Sabah does not arise

KOTA KINABALU October 5, 2011 : The need for Sabah to have autonomous power over education matters in order to better develop its education sector does not arise, said Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi.

He said this is because the federal government is already implementing various programmes that take into consideration the needs and requirements of the State, based on the standards accepted at the national level to ensure quality education among all Malaysians.

“We have a standard that we need to follow. The recruitment of teachers is based on the post availability at the Public Service Department (JPA),” he told reporters when asked on the call from state leaders for Sabah to be allowed to decide on its education issues, including the recruitment and placement of teachers.

“We have walk-in programme to find suitable candidates, to make sure that teachers in rural areas in Sabah are from among the local communities. We also have quota to ensure that teachers from Sabah are teaching in Sabah.

“So, the issue (recruitment of teachers from among locals) does not arise. Maybe they don’t understand what has been done by the government,” he said.

Puad maintained that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has always emphasised on the development of Sabah and Sarawak, including education.

He also expressed confidence that the 2012 National Budget to be tabled this Friday would give even greater focus to the development and education needs of the two states.

“We believe our teachers would be willing to serve in the urban areas. They would have no problem to stay there for a longer period if the facilities in these areas can be significantly improved. I am very confident the PM would continue to give attention on this matter,” he added.

Asked about the progress of his ministry’s effort to assist untrained attachment teachers (GSTT) from Sabah who have yet to be re-instated after their contracts were terminated, he reassured that they would all be called for training and be absorbed as permanent teachers in stages.

He said the government had decided to suspend the intake for Graduates Teaching Course (KPLI) programme this year in order to allow for more GSTT to be trained.    “But we cannot take them all in at once and this too would be based on the availability of posts at the JPA. It is up to the department and we cannot simply take anyone just like that as they must be trained and be paid as skilled teachers,” he said.

He said many things need to be considered as reinstatingthe GSST would affect the chances of other teachers currently waiting for posting, including those who will be graduating soon.

On a separate development, he said the ministry was still unable to start the physical work to build the long awaited SMK Nabalu as the Land and Survey Department had yet to issue the clearance to enter the site.

In addition, the Environment Department (JAS) has also not given its green light yet, pending the approval on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

“I hope local leaders would talk to this department and see how the project can be expedited. This is outside the ministry’s capability because we too need to follow the law, but I was informed that the JAS have had their meeting and I’m confident necessary actions are being taken,” he said.

He also noted that the ministry had introduced the multi-vitamin supplement programme involving all students across the country since Oct 1.

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