KUCHING: As there is no shortage of teachers for Chinese independent schools in Sarawak, there will not be any attempt to recruit foreign teachers from Taiwan and China.
The schools will only resort to recruitment of foreign teachers when there is a shortage of such teachers, which Sarawak United Association of Private Chinese School Management Board president Temenggong Vincent Lau did not foresee in the near future.
“As far as teachers are concerned, we have been able to source them locally. At the moment, we can still manage,” he told The Borneo Post.
He said this in response to the United Chinese Schools Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong)’s survey on the need to recruit teachers from China and Taiwan to teach in Chinese independent schools across the nation.
The nominated candidate of Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) for Sibu, however, agreed that teachers from Taiwan and China could be a possible pool of talents for Chinese independent schools in the country.
“However, Sarawak itself has not come to that situation yet. Presently, most of our teachers are locals who are graduates from Taiwan universities.
“In terms of qualifications, they prove to be effective. There has not been any problem with regards to our teachers and their ability to teach.
“And recently, as students are allowed to study in China, we have also local teachers who graduated from varsities in China, whom we believe will also be well-qualified teachers,” said Lau.
He said the availability of foreign teachers would offer an additional option which Sarawak United Association of Private Chinese School Management Board would take note of but will resort to only when the need arises.
“Though foreign teachers pose to be an option, there are complications such as the application of work permits in engaging them, apart from the extra cost incurred,” said Lau.
So far, Lau said he has yet to receive any notification or survey forms from Dong Zong with regards to the survey done on the need to recruit foreign teachers from Taiwan and China.