‘Psychometric test their last chance’
This (psychometric test on Nov 30) is their last chance – I don’t think the ministry is going to give them another chance. Once they pass the test, they will be absorbed permanently. I hope all of them would pass this test. Dato Sri Michael Manyin, Education, Science and Technological Research Minister
KUCHING: The last batch of 75 interim teachers will now get their third and final shot to sit for the psychometric test this Nov 30.
Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin, who announced this yesterday, reminded this group to prepare themselves and strive to pass the test in order to be permanently absorbed into the teaching service.
He said his ministry had gone all out to help this group after they failed the second test in May – the initiatives included personally meeting the Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid to allow their services to be temporarily extended until the end of the schooling year.
He explained that this group were initially from the batch of 601 university graduates from both public and private institutions of higher learning offered to be interim teachers last year.
Of the total, 392 passed the first psychometric test. The remaining 209 who failed were supposed to be terminated, according to the pre- condition under the contract stating that they must pass the test.
In May, the 209 candidates were recalled to sit for second psychometric test – 134 of them passed, while the service of the last group of 75 was temporarily extended although they were supposed to be terminated on June 30.
“This ( psychometric test on Nov 30) is their last chance – I don’t think the ministry is going to give them another chance. Once they pass the test, they will be absorbed permanently. I hope all of them would pass this test,” he said at a press conference at the State Legislative Assembly ( DUN) media centre yesterday.
The final psychometric test will be held at the Samarahan Campus Teachers Education Institute ( IPG) and all the candidates will be duly informed.
Last Sunday, the 75 interim teachers from secondary schools across Sarawak and their parents held a press conference to relay their hardship and sorrow.
Comprising holders of bachelor and master’s degrees in education from accredited private institutions, they hoped that the state government, through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research, would take immediate action to help them be reabsorbed as teachers.
Manyin said the ministry and the state Education Department would be open to having a dialogue with this group of 75 interim teachers, should they request it.
On the psychometric test, the minister explained that many agencies are now conducting the test to see whether a candidate is suitable for the job since studies have proven that correlation between curriculum vitae and onthe-job performance is quite low.
“Psychometric test is designed by professionals, mostly psychologists. In this case, it is definitely designed to actually see if these candidates are suitable for the teaching profession,” he said.
On a related matter, Manyin said Sarawak is now close to achieving the 90:10 ratio of local teachers to non- Sarawak teachers.
According to him, the quota is now 88:12 for secondary schools, and 84:16 for primary schools.
Meanwhile state Education Department director Rakayah Madon, who was also present at the press conference, said Sarawak has 1.82 per cent remaining towards achieving the 90:10 target for secondary schools, and the 4.25 per cent target for primary schools.