600 more teachers to be placed at vernacular schools this year, says Education Ministry

PETALING JAYA: A total of 600 teachers will be placed involving various subject options this year, says the Education Ministry.

The ministry said the placement of teachers at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) and Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) will be done in stages, it said in a response to Ayer Hitam MP Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong on the shortage of teachers.

Beginning this year, Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) leavers can also apply for the Bachelor in Teaching Programme (PISMP) specialising in Chinese language and primary Tamil language with elective subjects such as visual arts, design and technology as well as physical education.

“This effort is implemented to ensure Chinese and Tamil language teachers will receive attention and demand among applicants who want to study in this field,” the ministry said in its response.

Dr Wee posted on his Facebook the responses to a question raised when debating Budget 2023 in the Dewan Rakyat on March 28.

“Some of the issues I raised were fund allocations; the upgrade of poor schools; the setting up of SJKC; the difference in allocation, the shortage of teachers and Early School Assistance,” he said.

In response to the setting up of SJKC, the ministry said it will consider the application which is subjected to existing policy and law based on the need, the ministry said.

As for the difference in allocation, the ministry explained it has allocations for management expenditure (B.63) and development expenditure (P.63).

“If there are differences, specific allocations come from the Finance Ministry. For example, MOE was allocated RM89mil for the preschool food aid (B.63) and RM19mil came from the Finance Ministry, bringing the total to RM108mil.

“For fund allocation, the ministry channels maintenance allocation fairly based on applications and priority,” the ministry said.

The ministry also said reconstruction of school buildings or upgrading of dire school projects are based on impact grade score analysis to determine the level of physical components or building facilities conditions.

However, the projects and upgrading are determined by the current financial situation of the government and priority, it added.

The Early School Assistance (BAP) is given to Malaysian students from standard one to form five for the 2023/2024 session based on the BAP Tahun 2020 No 20 Financial Circular.

These include those from Sekolah Kebangsaan, Sekolah Bantuan Kerajaan, registered Islamic schools, registered private schools excluding international and expatriate schools, integrity school, Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih and Henry Gurney school.

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