Postings shock for graduate teachers
Ng Eng KiatPublished: Jun 1, 2006 11:35 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
One hundred and ninety one Special Graduate (PKBG) teachers are in a bind after being suddenly posted to schools not in their home states.
One hundred and ninety one Special Graduate (PKBG) teachers are in a bind after being suddenly posted to schools not in their home states.
The group of experienced teachers, many over forty and with families, were diploma holders who had enrolled for full time degree studies with half-pay leave
They recently graduated and were hoping to be posted in their home states but were shocked to receive letters directing them to report to schools up to 600 kilometres away.
In a statement yesterday, the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) noted this was the first time the Education Ministry has posted teachers with families to schools far away and from their respective spouses.
What is most unfair to them, said NUTP Sec-Gen Lok Yim Pheng, is that only two weeks were given to the teachers to report to their new postings.
"These are teachers with children, one is pregnant, one has handicapped children. They cannot move within such short notice," she said.
Affected most are those with children facing public examinations this year who cannot change their schools halfway into the school term.
Ministry pledge
Several of the teachers who spoke to malaysiakini today on condition of anonymity expressed both dismay and outrage at the ministry's decision. A 40-year-old Kedahan teacher was furious that after serving for 18 years, he is now posted to Kulai, Johor. He said had to leave his wife and four schooling children in Sungai Petani to start life anew in a place where he knows nobody.
"I have to spend so much to relocate myself, my pay is not high. I don't know whether I can go home every weekend to see my family," he said.
What is surprising, according to him, is that the school he got posted to does not need more teachers. Why teachers from the northern region are then posted so far south is a mystery, he said, adding, "Even teachers from Sarawak are sent to Johor. What is happening?"
Another 37-year-old teacher who taught for 10 years in Sabah before enrolling for the PKBG course was resigned to the fact that he would never get a posting to his hometown Klang. He has now been posted to Sungkai, Perak.
He said although he was single, he was concerned for his colleagues who are being separated from their wives and children.
"Although I might not stand a chance in getting a place in Selangor, I want to show my support (to my colleagues) by joining in an appeal to the education ministry," he said.
According to the NUTP, the Education Ministry Schools Division chief Norizan Baboo Hashim has pledged to look into the transfers within one month from the date she receives NUTP's appeal on behalf of the affected teachers.
The group of experienced teachers, many over forty and with families, were diploma holders who had enrolled for full time degree studies with half-pay leave
They recently graduated and were hoping to be posted in their home states but were shocked to receive letters directing them to report to schools up to 600 kilometres away.
In a statement yesterday, the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) noted this was the first time the Education Ministry has posted teachers with families to schools far away and from their respective spouses.
What is most unfair to them, said NUTP Sec-Gen Lok Yim Pheng, is that only two weeks were given to the teachers to report to their new postings.
"These are teachers with children, one is pregnant, one has handicapped children. They cannot move within such short notice," she said.
Affected most are those with children facing public examinations this year who cannot change their schools halfway into the school term.
Ministry pledge
Several of the teachers who spoke to malaysiakini today on condition of anonymity expressed both dismay and outrage at the ministry's decision. A 40-year-old Kedahan teacher was furious that after serving for 18 years, he is now posted to Kulai, Johor. He said had to leave his wife and four schooling children in Sungai Petani to start life anew in a place where he knows nobody.
"I have to spend so much to relocate myself, my pay is not high. I don't know whether I can go home every weekend to see my family," he said.
What is surprising, according to him, is that the school he got posted to does not need more teachers. Why teachers from the northern region are then posted so far south is a mystery, he said, adding, "Even teachers from Sarawak are sent to Johor. What is happening?"
Another 37-year-old teacher who taught for 10 years in Sabah before enrolling for the PKBG course was resigned to the fact that he would never get a posting to his hometown Klang. He has now been posted to Sungkai, Perak.
He said although he was single, he was concerned for his colleagues who are being separated from their wives and children.
"Although I might not stand a chance in getting a place in Selangor, I want to show my support (to my colleagues) by joining in an appeal to the education ministry," he said.
According to the NUTP, the Education Ministry Schools Division chief Norizan Baboo Hashim has pledged to look into the transfers within one month from the date she receives NUTP's appeal on behalf of the affected teachers.
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