Non-Sarawakian religious teachers will be brought in — Mahdzir

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KUCHING: The Ministry of Education will bring in several teachers from Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah to teach Islamic Studies in Sarawak.

Its minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said this is because there is insufficient number of religious teachers in the state.

“The lack of teachers teaching the Islamic Studies subject in Sarawak is very critical at the moment and as such, my ministry will bring in teachers from Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah to teach this subject in Sarawak,” he said during a dinner with State Education Department as well as state teachers unions and associations at a leading hotel here on Monday.

According to him, the arrangement had already been agreed to by Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Acknowledging that Sarawak intends to implement a 90:10 ratio of local teachers, he pointed out that this decision was a special arrangement to address the shortage of such teachers.

“I have presented this matter to the Chief Minister and he has agreed. Therefore, we will be bringing some teachers from Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah to fill the vacancy of religious teachers in Sarawak,” he said.

Among those present were state Education Department director Rakayah Madon, Sarawak Teachers Union (STU) president Jisin Nyut and Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union (KGBS) president Ahmad Malie.