KOTA KINABALU: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) yesterday declared its objection to the implementation of a quota system for religious subject teachers in Chinese primary schools.
LDP president Datuk Teo Chee Kang said the party would bring the issue up with Deputy Prime Minister cum Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin if the matter could not be resolved satisfactorily.
Teo, who is also the Minister of Special Tasks, said this when commenting on former Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Chau Tet On’s claim that the Education Ministry had transferred 500 religious teachers (JQaf Jawi, al-Quran, Arabic and Fardhu Ain) from West Malaysia to Sabah, most of them would be teaching in Chinese primary schools.
Teo said Datuk William Chu, who heads the LDP Education Bureau, had briefed party leaders on this issue during the supreme council meeting on January 25.
“LDP is very concerned about this issue and we are compiling a report at this moment.”
Teo disclosed that he had personally voiced out his concern on this matter to State Education director Datuk Jame Alip when they met at the State Action Committee meeting yesterday morning.
According to Jame, a total 67 religious teachers would be transferred to Sabah this year – 20 to mission schools and 47 to Chinese primary schools, Teo said.
Teo added that several Chinese primary schools in Kota Kinabalu had been informed of the transfer of an additional religious teacher to each school, including SJK(C) Chung Hwa Kota Kinabalu, SJK(C) Chung Hwa Likas, SJK(C) St James, SJK(C) Lok Yuk and SJK(C) Shan Tao.
“Our worry is the quota system for religious teachers in Chinese primary schools set by the Education Ministry.”
For instance, Teo said the ministry had fixed a quota of 17 religious teachers for SJK(C) Chung Hwa Kota Kinabalu and 14 for SJK(C) Chung Hwa Likas.
“We are worried that the Chinese schools are obliged to accept the number of religious teachers transferred to the schools based on the quota system from now on.”
He said the current number of religious teachers in Chinese schools was sufficient.
“Transfer of religious teachers to Chinese schools can be done on a need basis; there is no need to fix a quota for every school,” Teo suggested.
He said the party would reflect the issue to Muhyiddin if it was not resolved in a proper manner.