About 100 teachers turn up to protest against PBS system

BANGI: About 100 teachers turned up to protest against the Government’s lack of sincerity to review the school-based assessment (PBS) system.

The group led by Suara Guru-Masyarakat Malaysia (SGMM) demanded the abolishing of  the PBS system during the protest at a hall near a mosque in Bandar Baru Bangi.

SGMM working committee head Mohd Nor Izzat Mohd Johari said instead of addressing the flaws within the PBS system, the Education Ministry tried to cover up the weaknesses highlighted by teachers.

"We have waited for three years since PBS was first implemented. Yet the online PBS application system is still running at a very slow speed," Mohd Nor Izzat told reporters on Saturday
during the protest which was also attended by several NGO representatives.

Referring to the grouses of teachers who had to provide many "evidences" of the students' learning outcome when keying data to the PBS system,  Mohd Nor Izzat said the ministry only promised to reduce the number of "evidences" required.

“But it failed to look at the possibility of doing away altogether with the requirement to submit the evidences,” added Mohd Nor Izzat who was served with a transfer notice a day before the protest.

Mohd Nor Izzat, an Arts teacher from Pahang, received the notice on Friday  transferring him to another school more than 80km from his home.

He said that during meetings with the ministry officials, he was often attacked for being outspoken against PBS.

Johor teacher, Mokhhtar Razak Badri who was at the protest, claimed that he was sacked by ministry for opposing the PBS system and  PPSMI (Teaching of Maths and Science in English) policy earlier.

He said he received the letter of dismissal on Feb 6 without being given a chance to explain himself after his suspension from duty since 2012.

"No valid reason was also given for my suspension except allegations that I failed to attend to classes and do my duty in 2008 and 2009," said Mokhtar Razak who sports a ponytail.

He said that he has  taken a vow not to cut his hair since his suspension and will be taking legal action against the ministry for unlawful dismissal.