GEORGE TOWN: The Education Ministry should review teachers’ workload and responsibilities amid ongoing controversies in the education system, says Penang MCA liaison committee member Ooi Teik Liang.
Ooi said more attention should be given to teachers’ welfare, student discipline and school safety.
“We are calling on the Education Ministry to urgently review and redefine teachers’ roles to reduce excessive workload and restore education’s true purpose,” said Ooi, who is also the Tanjong MCA deputy chairman.
He said teachers are overburdened by policies and excessive paperwork, which affects classroom quality.
“It has become well known that each new Education Minister brings new policies, and every shift adds to teachers’ burden,” he said.
“In the past, a teacher’s main duty was to teach and prepare lessons. Today, they must handle administrative work, prepare reports, join external competitions and respond to parents’ demands,” added Ooi.
He spoke at a press conference at the MCA headquarters in Jalan Transfer on Tuesday (Oct 14).
Ooi said such pressure drains teachers physically and mentally, affecting focus and teaching quality.
He criticised the lowering of passing marks, saying it weakens education standards.
“The ministry’s decision to reduce passing marks from 50 to as low as 20 undermines education standards,” he said.
“It sends the wrong message and may encourage a ‘just teach enough to pass’ mindset. The goal of education is not to make it easy to pass, but to help students learn and grow,” added Ooi.
On school discipline, Ooi proposed a more transparent mechanism for managing student misconduct.
“Any disciplinary action, including caning, should be supervised and recorded to protect both teachers and students from misunderstandings,” he said.
He added that government funding should prioritise school safety.
“Installing CCTV in key areas can help monitor student activities and provide impartial evidence if incidents occur,” he said.
“A proper surveillance system would reduce disputes and create a safer school environment,” he added.
Also present was Bagan MCA secretary Chan Wooi Jin.
