Zahid: Upgrade current teaching service scheme

KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today urged the Education Ministry to give serious attention towards improving the current teaching service scheme.
Showering accolades on teachers during teachers' day alone was not enough, he said, adding that the contributions by this group of people was not appreciated enough.
"The welfare of teachers should be given better attention through improvements in the teaching service scheme.
"The role of teachers has evolved from merely helping them to excel in their studies to moulding them to become exemplary citizens and leaders," he said at the launch of the 45th National Teachers' Day celebrations at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah campus, here.
He said with the numerous transformation plans put in place by the government, teachers will play a much bigger role in the nation building process.
"In view of this, the ministry must look into providing what teachers deserve, especially for the commitment and sacrifices they make.
"I have confidence in the current Education Minister who has teaching background. Please do the best for your fellow teachers," he said.
Also present was Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, and his two deputies Datuk P. Kamalanathan and Senator Chong Sin Woon, Education Department director-general Datuk Seri Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof and Sabah Education director Maimunah Suhaibul.
Ahmad Zahid also said he was confident once the national economy has recovered, efforts to improve the teaching service scheme will be realised and be better than the present.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the success stories created by many today are the results of their teachers' efforts and dedication to ensure success for each of their students.
Relating his memories as a student, the prime minister said the teachers were always strict, but their strictness always came with an abundance of love to help shape the students' personalities.
"The student's success is their success, and those who are successful today are the results of efforts taken by their dedicated teachers who always put their students' development and learning process as their top priority.
"In conjunction with Teacher's Day celebration today, and whether we have left the schools for many years or still attending classes, let's appreciate the deeds and sacrifices of our teachers.
"Thank you teachers, and Happy Teacher's Day!" he posted in Facebook today.
Meanwhile, Mahdzir said the professional standards of teachers in schools must meet the Malaysian Education Quality Standard.
As such, he said, there must always be continuous education through their own initiative as stated in the Continuous Professional Development Plan, so that teachers could improve the quality of their work and skills through knowledge, attitudes and positive values, he said.
He said his ministry had also introduced a new initiative called "Becoming a Malaysian Teacher' as an effort to transform the teaching profession into a choice career .
"I hope that through this initiative, the teaching profession will be further empowered," he said, adding that the initiative would be implemented in stages.
In a related development, Mahdzir said the Secondary School Standard Curriculum would be introduced next year and would include features like communications, critical thinking, collaborative relations and creativity. — Bernama