Retain status of 9 IPGs in S’wak, Sabah – Union

SIBU: The joint committee of Teachers’ Unions Association of Sabah and Sarawak is appealing to the Education Ministry to retain the status of nine Teachers’ Training Institutes ( IPG) in the two regions.

The joint committee, led by Ahmad Malie, and comprises 14 teachers’ unions in Sabah and Sarawak, made the call during a recent meeting in Miri.

Ahmad said their justification for the appeal was based on the insistence of the people, who are concerned about the issue.

The joint committee held a meeting to sort out issues to be brought during a meeting and courtesy call on Education Minister (Dr Maszlee Malik) in the near future. We are hoping that the minister will receive our visit.

According to media report, the previous ( BN) government had decided to convert the functions of nine IPGs into Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). The nine IPGs include two in Sarawak, namely IPG campus Sarawak, Miri; and IPG campus Rajang, Bintangor.

“The joint committee held a meeting to sort out issues to be brought during a meeting and courtesy call on Education Minister ( Dr Maszlee Malik) in the near future. We are hoping that the minister will receive our visit.

“Among the hot issues discussed (during the recent meeting) was to appeal to ministry for the nine IPGs to be retained as teachers training institutes.”

Ahmad hoped that the present ( PH) government, through the ministry under Maszlee’s leadership, would consider the appeal for the sustainability of the teaching profession.

Meanwhile, Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching has said that the ministry would review the previous government’s decision to change the status of nine out of 27 IPGs to polytechnics and vocational colleges.

She was quoted as saying that the ministry would take into account the views of all parties before making a decision.

Ahmad Malie, IPG committee