Clarification – This story has been updated to reflect the correct statement made by the Minister of Education. The error is regretted.
Azlan Othman
To assist teachers who carry out administrative duties, they are given fewer teaching periods with 10-16 periods per week or equivalent to five to eight hours weekly, said Minister of Education Yang Berhormat Datin Seri Setia Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh during yesterday’s 19th Legislative Council (LegCo) meeting.
LegCo member Yang Berhormat Haji Mohamad Danial @Tekpin bin Ya’akub raised the issue of stress and large workloads faced by teachers due to shortage of teachers, a packed timetable, overloaded and with administration work. “This has affected the quality of teaching,” he said.
In her reply, the minister said that the Ministry of Education has implemented directives for the ideal number of teachers in schools and the right size of classes to ensure that school staff will have the appropriate workload and tasks.
The ministry is also engaging more new teachers annually through the Apprentice or Immersion programme. “A candidate eligible to become a teacher, can do so by enrolling in the Initial Teacher Preparation programme or Master of Teaching,” she said.
