Spend less time on functions and more time on lessons, schools told

SEREMBAN: All government schools have been told to cut protocol and excessive celebrations when organising events to allow teachers to spend more time with students in classrooms.

The move, which covers 10,180 schools nationwide, is also aimed at reducing teachers’ workload and cut expenditure.

Education Ministry deputy director-general Datuk Ahmad Tajudin Jab said this move was necessary as there was a lot of protocol and celebration involved during events held at schools.

“When there is an opening or closing ceremony for example, it should not take too long and should be completed within 90 and 120 minutes,” he said adding that this included visits by the minister, his deputies or other senior Ministry staff.

Ahmad Tajudin said in a directive to all state Education offices and schools that these measures need to be implemented as schools should not be spending too much time when organising such events.

He said although the ministry had previously instructed schools through the respective state and district Education offices to ensure such events were brief, the directive was not adhered to.

“At present, there is just too much protocol involved and excessive celebrations.

“Schools should instead focus on their core activity, which is to be a centre of learning and teaching,” he said, adding that these measures must be implemented to ensure optimum returns for every ringgit spent by the Government on education.

Ahmad Tajudin said welcome parties set up to greet VIPs including the minister should also be restricted to school administrators and if necessary, student leaders.

“Schools should not get too many students involved to welcome the minister or any senior individual from the ministry.

“Also, schools are encouraged to host such events during co-curricular hours so that student classroom time need not be interrupted,” he said, adding that any student involved in welcoming VIPs should not be made to spend too much time rehearsing.

Ahmad Tajudin said to optimise time, the reciting or prayers or doa during such events should also not exceed three minutes.

When contacted, the National Union of The Teaching Profession (NUTP) president Kamarozaman Abd Razak said the body representing teachers welcomed the directive.

There are some 420,000 teachers in government service.

“Teachers are sometimes caught in the middle as some headmasters would insist on having a grand celebration, particularly if there was a visit by the minister or other senior ministry staff.

“Sometimes, it is the district education office that would direct a school to do so and again, the headmaster and teachers are forced to comply,” he said.