BELURAN: Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Bin Khalid has warned teachers not to be extreme in voicing their dissatisfaction in social media as it might tarnish their professionalism.
“I am aware that a small number of teachers has been brave in voicing their dissatisfaction with the government through their writing in social media.
“I have personnally read their write-up and most of it are not true. As for now, we only give them warning and have not taken stern action against them.
“We assume that they are also professional just like the other teachers. They should know the outcome of their behaviour,” he said during his working visit to SMK Beluran Bestari here yesterday.
Earlier, Mahdzir launched the ‘Active Teacher Program’ and Folk Games (Sukan Rakyat) at the same school.
Speaking at the ceremony, he said teachers played an important role not only in schools but in the community where they could strengthen unity.
Mahdzir also attended a reunion dinner organised by the school at Sanbay Hotel on Friday night which was also attended by 30 former teachers and 300 of SMK Beluran Bestari alumni.
Mahdzir was teaching at SMK Beluran Bestari from 1984 to 1986, some 30 years ago under the former school principal, Mohd Dayang.
He said the government through the Ministry of Education is committed in reducing the education gap between rural and urban schools.
He said the ministry was making an effort to put rural schools on par with urban schools in various aspects.
“Speaking about education gap, it does involves various aspects, it does not solely depend on academic achievement.
“What we want to reduce in the education gap are in terms of enhancing education quality through quality teachers, teacher option, student attendance and school facilities.
“As for school facilities, schools in rural areas are indeed in dire need of hostel to accomodate students who have to travel for hours to go to school. Inadequate hostel has caused dropout among student in rural areas.
“To upgrade the internet connectivity is needed vital for schools in rural areas so they may be more updated with current issues,” he said.
Therefore, taking all that into account the ministry certainly needs time and funds to carry out proposed projects such as building hostels in stages, he added.
“However, we will expedite the construction of hostels for SMK Simpangan, Paitan and Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Sungai-Sungai, Sugut.
“As for the request to establish SMK Botition, we hope the project could be included under the 12th Rolling Plan of the 11th Malaysia Plan,” he said.
During the visit to SMK Beluran Bestari, Mahdzir had also announced an allocation of RM100,000 for the school to carry out minor repairs apart from approving the construction of an open space hall for the school.
Also present were State Director of Education Datuk Hajjah Maimunah Haji Suhaibul, Sugut assemblyman Datuk James Ratib, Beluran Education Officer Haji Soje Bin Abd Hassan, SMK Beluran principal Nor Aslam Mano Bin Abdullah.
After the visit to SMK Beluran Bestari, Mahdzir also took the opportunity to visit Mohd Dayang at Kampung Kolapis, Beluran.