Sarawak union questions quality of teachers in ‘rushed intake’

 Teachers union president Kullin Djayang casts doubt on recruitment of graduates from private universities, as they do not go through the strict entry requirements of public universities.

Sarawak teachers union president Kullin Djayang said public universities offering education degrees usually enforce strict entry requirements, as do teacher training institutes.

PETALING JAYA:

 The Sarawak Teachers’ Union has raised concern over the “rushed” recruitment of private university graduates during the special teacher recruitment drive in Sarawak.

STU president Kullin Djayang said many such graduates were recruited into schools without undergoing essential tests or the special teacher interview process, as required of candidates from public universities and teacher training institutes, reported Dayak Daily.

Kullin Djayang.

“In many cases, graduates from private colleges did not sit for essential tests like the Malaysian educators selection inventory nor did they go through the specialised teacher interview process,” he said.

He said public universities offering education degrees usually enforce strict entry requirements, as do teacher training institutes, who must score at least 5As in SPM and pass psychometric tests, physical fitness screenings, and special interviews.

“All these steps are designed to ensure that we produce quality educators, uphold the dignity of the teaching profession, and develop high-quality human capital,” he said.

Kullin urged the state’s education services commission to review the teacher recruitment system, especially its special recruitment process, due to these weaknesses.

He stressed that simply possessing an education degree should not automatically qualify a person for teaching. “SPM and STPM results are often not prioritised for entry into private universities, unlike public institutions which impose stricter academic thresholds,” he said.

Kullin said the union was not accusing any specific private college and simply wanted the education commission to evaluate whether private institutions meet the standards of proper teacher training. - FMT