‘REDUCE TEACHERS’ WORKLOAD’
This is to allow them to focus more on schoolkids and help them develop core values, says NUTP sec-gen
THE government should look into reducing teachers’ workload to enable them to focus more on schoolchildren and help them develop core values.
National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretarygeneral Harry Tan Huat Hock said it was important for teachers to be focused when engaging with their students, especially in subjects related to morals and religion.
He said this could be done only if teachers’ workload was reduced, as it would allow them to properly impart values through activities and practical sessions of the lessons.
“The problem is teachers are preoccupied with reports and other paperwork. They don’t spend time with the students as much compared with before.
“They need to spend more time with their students, especially in religious subjects.
“The heavy workload is preventing teachers from organising more activities, such as visits to charity homes.
“Activities like this are important as they build a child’s character,” Tan told the Times.
He was responding to a New Sunday Times report, which said that the government was mulling a reform of the curriculum used for early childhood education to make room for imparting values, such as hard work, national pride and pride in quality of work.
The report quoted Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in an interview with The Third Age Media Association and Bernama News Channel. Dr Mahathir said good values determined a person’s success, and by extension, a society’s value system determined a country’s success.
He also said imparting good values in early childhood education was vital as the hectic pace of modern life did not give parents enough time to teach these values to their children.
Tan said many students did not obtain a wellrounded education due to the examination-oriented culture in Malaysia.
He said the current school curriculum included values and character-building aspects, but they were not effective due to the attitudes of the society.
“The curriculum includes many aspects that impart values, but the problem lies with the society.
“Having both parents who are working leads to several issues.
“Parents who are busy with work usually have little time to spare for their children.
“The children, therefore, may strive only for academic success and focus only on exams.
“When teachers are swamped with workload, it takes the fun out of (learning).
“As a result, children do not fully understand what they have learnt,” said Tan.
He said NUTP had been proposing for the reduction of teachers’ workload, abolishment of the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and changes to the exam-oriented mindset to produce better students.
Registered Childcare Providers Malaysia Association president Norsheila Abdullah said the government should ensure that childminders were competent to train the young ones.
“We need the childminders to meet certain standards and have the ability not only to care for children but also educate them.
“Most childminders have certificates from courses that they attended.
“But, their work do not reflect these qualifications. Colleges or universities that offer courses for caregivers or childminders should emphasise on hands-on experience.”
She said childminders needed to have skills to handle children of all ages and conditions, including children with special needs.
“We are not talking about nuts and bolts. These are human beings who need to be nurtured with love.
“It is not only about books. Children learn to adapt their values and culture based on experiences,” she said, while admitting that it was the shared responsibility of parents, guardians and educators to teach children values.