Sabah Chinese schools need 80 more English, BM teachers

0

KOTA KINABALU: About 80 more English and Bahasa Malaysia teachers are needed for Chinese vernacular primary schools in Sabah.

According to Tham Yun Fook, Assistant Education Director for Chinese Schools in Sabah, said the state still lacks teachers for the two languages in Chinese vernacular primary schools.

However, Sabah is not facing a shortage of Chinese subject teachers, he said.

Tham said the Chinese vernacular schools want English and BM teachers who are able to understand Mandarin as well.

He said he has given the assurance that the Federal Education Department will hire interim teachers to fill in the void this year.

He said the Federal Education Department had employed interim teachers last year but their employment has to be renewed on a yearly basis.

Tham said the principal’s evaluation of the interim teachers’ suitability to teach in a particular school was also taken into account.

“If the principal feels that the current interim teacher is not suitable, then we will not appoint the existing interim teacher to that school,” he said, in an interview during his visit to SJK(C) Chung Hwa Kota Kinabalu yesterday, when the school reopened.

He believes that the Federal Education Department is in the process of getting ready the interim teachers required by these schools.

Also present were Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, SJK(C) Chung Hwa Kota Kinabalu board of governors chairman, Datuk William Chu and headmaster Datuk Eng Thiam Leong.

Meanwhile, Tham said, teachers were required to prepare their daily lesson plan to ensure they have proper planning for the next day and whole week. He said this requirement has been in place since 50 to 60 years ago.

Tham said the lesson plans would be submitted and signed by the principal or vice principal weekly. Failure to do will result in an advisory being given to the teacher, followed by a warning and ultimately sterner action being taken.

However, Tham said, none of the teachers in Chinese schools have had action been taken for failing to submit their lesson plans to date.