No more perks
Chong: Govt will continue to fund undergraduate degree in Education
The Government is stopping allowances for trainee teachers.
PETALING JAYA: Allowances for trainee teachers, including living and travel allowances, will be stopped from June next year, said Deputy Education Minister Datuk Chong Sin Woon.
The ministry will, however, continue to fund the undergraduate degree in Education (PISMP) programme.
“The total cost of the four-year PISMP is RM27,831. This will still be borne by the Government,” Chong told The Star.
Trainee teachers could apply for a National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan to help with their living expenses, he said.
Existing PISMP trainees will continue to receive the RM430 monthly living expense allowance and travel allowance not exceeding RM500 a year until they graduate.
To be a teacher in Malaysia, trainees enrol in the Institutes of Teacher Education’s foundation course.
Upon completing a one-year pre-undergraduate degree in Education (PPISMP), they go on to do the PISMP.
Both PPISMP and PISMP are fulltime programmes.
Chong said there were no changes to the foundation course allowances, and the fees totalling RM8,163 would be paid by the Government.
National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Harry Tan said while allowances were the prerogative of the Government, a soft-landing approach should be taken.
“The Government wants PPISMP and PISMP to become like universities where students who cannot afford to study either apply for scholarships or the PTPTN loan.
“That’s the Government’s right to decide. But those enrolling for PPISMP and PISMP must be told prior to the implementation of the new policy. Not after they’ve enrolled,” he said.
He said it would otherwise be unfair to parents.
“Parents are happy when they find out that their child have been selected to become a teacher.
“They think it will help reduce the family’s financial burden. Imagine their shock now,” said Tan.
Malaysia Human Rights Commission commissioner and ex-NUTP secretary-general Datuk Lok Yim Pheng urged the ministry to reconsider abolishing trainee teacher allowances as it would hit the poor hard.
“At one of the teacher education institutes, I was told that at least 30% of the trainees’ parents are 1Malaysia People’s Aid recipients.
Lok said most of the trainees were unaware of the new ruling.
“Apparently, no circular was issued, just a simple notice was put up. Trainees were briefed verbally,” she said.
She said making the trainees, who dream of becoming teachers, take a loan would cause them to go into debt.
“Education is a basic human right. I know what it’s like coming from a poor family, and having to borrow money just to study and become a teacher,” said Lok.