Provide adequate teachers’ quarters within vicinity of schools, urges union

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Union of the Teaching Profession has offered several suggestions to better increase the welfare of teachers nationwide.

Its president, Kamarozaman Abd Razak, said teachers’ quarters should be adequately provided within the vicinity of the schools they were teaching at.

“The issue of teachers not having their own quarters is more apparent in big cities, in rural areas in Sabah and Sarawak, and surrounding islands.

“There are instances where teachers are required to share quarters with other teachers, which is not appropriate.”

Another issue, he added, was regarding the health of teachers.

He suggested that the government set up welfare units at district education offices to conduct checks on the health of teachers in the area.

“Teachers sometimes do not have time to go to the hospital, so it would be good if medical officers can come to schools and conduct medical examinations there.

“The stress and pressure they face is dangerous. And, if not treated, it can lead to serious diseases,” he said.

On the issue of teachers teaching in states far away from their spouses and families, Kamarozaman said the government must relook into the needs for teachers for optional subjects.

According to him, the problem of transferring teachers arose when they could only teach in their own specialised subjects, or options, where there were specific quotas for each subject in each school.

“We implore the Education Ministry to reconsider the need for option teachers as it would be impossible for them to transfer if only one specialised subject is considered. For example, if a Bahasa Malaysia teacher is able to teach another critical subject, transfer her and train her to teach in that subject so she can fill the position in her chosen school.

“Sometimes, teachers put aside their needs for the sake of their students. This is why they must be taken good care of.”