Dayak NGOs call for study on entry criteria to IPGs in S’wak
MIRI: A number of local Dayakbased non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have called on the Ministry of Education (MoE) to study the requirements for one to enrol in any of the teacher education institutes (IPGs) in Sarawak.
In a joint statement issued yesterday, they pointed out that Sarawakian IPG graduates would be the ones returning to their respective communities and educate the children there.
“Without denying the need for teachers from the peninsula (coming to serve in Sarawak) for the purpose of national integration and the inevitable need in certain fields, there are many benefits to reap if our local children could serve in their home areas after undergoing professional teacher training,” they said.
The NGOs referred to a statement by Sarawak Teachers Union (STU), issued on May 6, calling upon the Sarawak government to review its 90:10 policy concerning the teacher population in Sarawak – namely nine local teachers to one nonlocal teacher.
The union said the ratio had resulted in a shortage of 3,000 teachers in Sarawak, which was adversely affecting rural schools.
“We do not agree with this statement. We believe in the Sarawak government’s target of 90 per cent of teachers in the state being local Sarawakians, and this should be realised by giving priority to Sarawakians to enter IPGs in Sarawak,” said the NGOs.
Adding on, they also highlighted the importance of opening up employment opportunities for local graduates who had yet to land any job.
“These graduates could be absorbed into the teaching force and trained to follow the programme at the IPGs in Sarawak.”
The NGOs believed that local Sarawakians serving in the teaching profession would understand local problems, issues and aspirations of the local communities better than the non-Sarawakians.
“They could certainly become leading examples to the local students, and this would help increase the number of more educated members of the community in the long run.”
Contributing to the joint statement were Dayak Think Tank Association Sarawak president Elias Lipi Mat and deputy president Edward Awan; Dayak National Congress president Paul Raja; Sarawak Iban Association president Samuel Suring; Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia) Miri secretary Rafael Dru; Persatuan Terabai Menua Sarawak president Wilfred Nissem; Persatuan Balang Balai Nyabong secretary-general Dr John Brian; and Persatuan Jaringan Tanah Hak Adat Bangsa Asal Sarawak president Romuald Siew.