‘Be considerate in recalling teachers’

Use discretion so as not to upset staff on their break, headmasters advised

SEREMBAN: Headmasters have the authority to recall teachers to work during school holidays, but the Education Department advises them to be considerate so as not to upset their staff.

Education deputy director-general Aminudin Adam said the ministry has received complaints from teachers who were unhappy about being summoned back during the break.

He said a 40-year-old directive by the Education Ministry clearly states that headmasters have the authority to recall teachers for up to half the number of school holidays in a given year.

“Headmasters can ask their teachers to return for invigilating duties, to attend courses, or prepare for the new term,” Aminudin said in a directive to all state Education Departments.

“But we want headmasters to use their wisdom and plan this out so that it will not inconvenience their staff.”

There are some 420,000 teachers in 10,180 government schools nationwide.

National Union of the Teaching Profession ( NUTP) president Kamarozaman Abd Razak said some headmasters have abused this power and recalled teachers as and when they pleased.

“Some teachers are called back to merely jaga sekolah (mind the school) when the headmaster or assistant go on leave.

“This is totally unacceptable,” he said.

Kamarozaman said that since teachers do not get annual leave like other civil servants, they should be allowed to enjoy the school holidays.

“We can accept it if teachers are told to return to school to invigilate or attend training.

“But meetings to plan for the new school year should only be held after Christmas,” he said.

Kamarozaman said even Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid had told the NUTP that teachers should not be asked to come back to school unnecessarily and that they were entitled to their break.

“We have told teachers to file complaints with the union if their headmasters make things difficult for them.

“School heads should not ask teachers to come back in the middle of December if there is no pressing need,” he said.

Kamarozaman expressed hope that headmasters would comply with the ministry's directive and exercise their authority wisely.