TUMPAT: The integrity and competence of teachers nationwide is not affected even though the country was rocked by the issue of leaked Primary School Achievement Test (UPSR) examination papers recently, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said although the case had slightly dented the image of the Ministry of Education, it did not affect the good name of teachers.
“I’m sure the image of teachers is not affected and most or even 99.9 per cent of teachers always preserve the integrity and dignity of the teaching profession.
“They are highly regarded by society.
“That’s why we continue our careers seriously … uphold the trust in us. Do not let this event cause us to feel angry or frustrated,” he said at an ‘An Evening with DPM’ event at the Mara Junior Science College here yesterday.
More than 600 teachers from the Tumpat district attended the event.
Muhyiddin said the leaks in the UPSR papers should serve as a lesson to all and should not recur in future.
He said he understood the anxiety of the teachers and pupils involved following the leaks and very early on had issued apologies to the parents and the pupils themselves.
“I as the Education Minister cannot run away from my responsibility and straightaway apologised to the parents and pupils because the papers have to be taken again on Sept 30.
“This fiasco only involved a few teachers and this makes it a problem that is not of very huge proportions,” he said, adding that main focus now was to see world recognition for Malaysia’s education system. — Bernama