(Kuala Lumpur, 22nd) Deputy Minister of Education Wong Kah Woh stated that ensuring qualified Chinese teachers who wish to teach in secondary schools are given priority arrangements to secondary school groups is his way of preparing and paving the way for the future, with hopes of retaining them in secondary schools and cultivating successors for the principal and vice-principal positions of Chinese secondary schools.
He explained that Chinese teachers in secondary schools are not necessarily Chinese language subject teachers; they may teach science, mathematics, or physical education. Having enough Chinese teachers is to pave the way for successors to the principal and vice-principal positions of the 80 Chinese secondary schools.
“When you have fewer Chinese teachers, the proportion of Chinese teachers in Chinese secondary schools directly decreases, eventually leading to problems in the succession of principals for Chinese secondary schools. If you do not have Chinese teachers, in ten years or so, there may be a break in the succession.”
He also said that 35 teachers who are qualified to teach in secondary schools but were originally arranged by the Education Service Commission this April to primary school groups will now be able to fulfill their wish to teach in secondary schools.
“Some of them may still remain in SJKCs (Chinese primary schools); they may further their studies in kindergarten or other subjects required by Chinese primary schools, etc.”
He also revealed that for this matter, he convened all related departments at the end of last year, such as the Education Service Commission, the human resources unit, and officials in charge of teacher assignment, to explain his reassignment decision so that officials would understand that more Chinese teachers are needed in secondary schools. In fact, this is to pave the way for the successors of Chinese secondary school principals, and the officials generally understood.
“This is the change I want to implement; if anyone in the future comes to the Deputy Minister’s Office on the 9th floor of the Ministry of Education and can continue with these practices, many Chinese education issues can be solved. We do not want to treat headaches by treating only the head, or treat foot pain by treating only the foot, and we should not just play firefighter whenever a problem appears. The most important thing is how to make this road smoother and more accessible.”
He said since 2020, some university graduates originally intended to become secondary school teachers, and studied mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, and other science subjects at university, but were assigned to primary schools by the Education Service Commission after interviews and arrangements by the Ministry of Education.
“Some of them were assigned because science-related subjects at secondary schools might have been full; another reason is that they scored excellent grades in SPM Chinese, making them eligible to teach in SJKCs, and thus were sent to primary schools.”
“Some of them were assigned because science-related subjects at secondary schools might have been full; another reason is that they scored excellent grades in SPM Chinese, making them eligible to teach in SJKCs, and thus were sent to primary schools.”
He said this situation also occurs with Malay trainees. From the primary schools’ point of view, of course it increases the teachers by 20 or 30, but for those graduates who originally hoped to teach secondary, it is a bit unsatisfactory, and at the same time also leads to fewer Chinese teachers in Chinese or national-type secondary schools.
He emphasized that Chinese teachers, especially in Chinese secondary schools, play an important role in preserving Chinese and Chinese culture and the distinctive characteristics of Chinese schools. Even if they are not principals, they often need to lead activities related to Chinese culture.
He gave examples such as, although non-Chinese teachers can help lead students to participate in 24 Festive Drums, calligraphy competitions, or lion and dragon dance activities, these are still mainly led by Chinese teachers.
He pointed out that the main sources of Chinese language teachers in secondary schools currently are Sultan Idris Education University and the University of Malaya’s Teaching Diploma Program (Chinese Department). Through his efforts, the Chinese Secondary School Development Council, and the cooperation of related institutions, admission quotas have been increased.
Wong Kah Woh said Sultan Idris Education University will open 103 admission slots in 2024 and 120 in 2025, while the University of Malaya has agreed to offer 50 admission places in 2025.
“Every additional teacher is one more hope, one more Chinese language teacher.”
He said Sultan Idris Education University admitted 93 students last year, while the University of Malaya admitted only 35. The government has prepared to solve the teacher supply issue, but the strength of the whole society is needed to help.
Wong Kah Woh added that the federal government and the state governments of Sabah and Sarawak have a regulation that teachers from East Malaysia should remain and serve locally as much as possible. Each year, more than a dozen Sultan Idris Education University graduates come from Sarawak, but data shows that Sarawak does not lack Chinese language teachers in secondary schools, thus graduates of the Chinese program from Sarawak cannot be appointed as teachers.
“Because of the regulation by the federal and Sarawak state governments to retain them in Sarawak, officials see that there is no vacancy in Sarawak and thus do not arrange interviews or appointments for them. So, over the past two years, we have received complaints from these students.”
He revealed that since last year, his team has been contacting these Sarawakian Sultan Idris graduates about their willingness to cross over to Peninsular Malaysia to teach in secondary schools, thanking them for their dedication to education and their willingness to cross the sea to the peninsula to carry on the torch.
“They are unsung heroes in Chinese education.”
