Published on: Friday, May 27, 2005 |
Lahad Datu: Education Minister Dato Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein said his Ministry will propose to the Federal Cabinet to upgrade teacher training colleges to Teacher Education Institutes (IGPs), aimed at producing quality teachers with the necessary skills.
This would dispel any negative perception towards the teaching profession, he said at the State-level Teachers Day celebration at the Lahad Datu Chinese Secondary School hall, Thursday. It was delivered by Education Director-General Dato Dr Haji Ahamad Sipon.
"We want the teaching profession to be synonymous with quality, sacrifice and the strength of a nation.
"We have allocated huge investments to produce quality teachers, but the country would have to incur more due to lack of quality among teachers," Hishamuddin said.
According to him, the main agenda to instill a high level of quality among teachers would be to place greater emphasis on their intellectual, spiritual, physical and emotional needs from the moment they chose teaching as their profession.
The strategy would include promotion opportunities to Jusa C and Gred Khas C for principals and excellent teachers who wish to be retained in their respective schools.
The number of teachers and principals being recommended for promotions would be increased from time to time through the Education Service Scheme, he said.
In this respect, the Ministry recently sent the first batch of students who attained excellent SPM results and chose teaching as their future profession for related courses in foreign universities (PPC).
Hishamuddin also disclosed that the Ministry received some 82,000 applications for some 2,000 places under the Education Bachelor Degree Programme; 6,000 applications for 100 places under PPC and 7,000 applications for 500 places for courses in Teaching of English as a Second Language (TESL).
He assured that dedicated teachers with high qualities would be retained in their respective fields, but warned that the Ministry would not compromise on teachers flouting the regulations.
This year's Teachers Day celebration, launched by Head of State Tun Haji Ahmadshah Abdullah, was themed Guru Berquality Pemangkin Kegemilangan.
Meanwhile, in his speech at a dinner later, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman said a quality teacher is measured not only by his high level of knowledge, but also an excellent example to his or her students as well as the community in general.
Teachers should be abreast with current developments in order to stay ahead with the integration of information technology and communication in their teaching routine, he said, in an address delivered by Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datu Nasrun Datu Mansur.
He also assured that the State Government would strive to overcome the shortcomings faced by rural schools through the relevant agencies to ensure they would no longer lag behind urban schools.
He also regretted that the National Anti-Nacortics Agencies had disclosed a total of 3,499 students involving in drug-related offences in Sabah, mainly committed by male students.
Musa urged parents to monitor the movement of their children so that they would not be unduly influenced by negative elements.
Tun Ahmadshah later launched Horizon Gemilang, a publication mooted by Lahad Datu Regional Education Officer Zainal Abidin Laja and published by the Lahad Datu Secondary School Principals Association.
Also present was Tun Ahmadshah's wife Toh Puan Hajah Dayang Masuyah Awang Japar, Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, State Secretary Datuk KY Mustapha and Sabah Education Director Datuk Haji Amin Arif.
