Teachers hired in mass drive must already be trained, says educator

 

Ex-state education director Jame Alip says untrained teachers can affect teaching and learning, as well as the management of the classroom and students.

KOTA KINABALU: Teachers who are going to be hired by the government in the large-scale one-off recruitment drive must already be trained and equipped with pedagogical knowledge, says a former state education director.

Former Sabah education director Jame Alip told FMT that recruiting teachers without these skills would be no different to hiring tutors for a tuition centre, adding that it will affect students’ learning process.

He welcomed education minister Radzi Jidin’s announcement on the large-scale recruitment to fill a shortage of teachers for certain key subjects.

Jame expressed his concern that the teachers recruited in this one-off initiative would comprise untrained backup teachers and interim teachers, who are hired then required to attend training courses every semester break, as this was what the ministry did previously.

“It is quite unprofessional for the teaching profession if someone is made a teacher without pedagogical knowledge and skills.

“Teachers without pedagogical knowledge are like teachers teaching in tuition centres. It can affect teaching and learning, as well as the management of the classroom and students,” he said.

Radzi announced on Sunday that the ministry would employ 18,702 teachers to address shortages in four states: Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor and Johor.

Among subjects with teacher shortages in primary schools are English, History, Special Education and Religious Education, while in secondary schools, the subjects include Bahasa Melayu, English and Islamic Education.

Jame said it would be better for the education ministry to hire fresh graduates in education courses before embarking on the recruitment, adding that many who had completed their education and training were yet to be hired.

“They haven’t been appointed by the Education Service Commission although they applied and possess an education degree from teaching institutes and public or private universities,” he said.

Jame, who has served in the education sector for 38 years, also urged the government not to close any teaching institute in the country, saying it can help address the shortage of teachers should the issue become “critical”. - FMT