Monday September 24, 2012
There is a need to encourage students to go into education
By ELWEEN LOKE
elween@thestar.com.my
SHE is bright, multilingual, and aspires to become a teacher.
But the Ipoh Poi Lam High School graduate who holds an SPM and Unified Examination Certificate or UEC (which is equivalent to STPM and issued by Chinese Independent Schools) recently failed to gain entry into a teachers’ training institute.
The student who also failed in her appeal to the Education Ministry to reconsider her case, has since left for Taiwan to further her studies.
A teacher from SRJK (C) Phui Ying, Simpang Pulai, Ow Kee Huah, highlighted the case to Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong during a dialogue in Ipoh last Thursday.
Helping hands: Dr Wee (third left) looking at Perak MCA secretary Datuk Tan Chin Meng (third right), Perak MCA deputy chairman Datuk Lee Chee Leong (second right) and Perak MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon (right) donating money to the SM Chung Hwa Kuantan building fund. This is not an isolated case, as several teachers had also ex-pressed other cases.
Their concern also stems from the need to encourage more students to go into teaching in order to help resolve the shortage of teachers in Chinese schools.
In an immediate response, Dr Wee revealed that applicants must also pass a test with 200 questions to gauge their potential in the profession.
He reiterated that using either SPM or UEC to apply would be the same as both qualifications were recognised by the Ministry for entry into teachers’ training institute.
On the upward mobility in the teaching profession, Dr Wee said the Ministry had opened doors for teachers with higher qualification, like Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD), to lecture full-time at teachers’ training institutes.
“They have been invited to lecture, and will be offered a permanent post if they are found to be suitable for the job,” he said in reply to a question from SMK Methodist (ACS) Kampar teacher, Yee Chun Sheng.
Earlier , Dr Wee and MCA Youth education bureau chief Chong Sin Woon held a briefing on education matters at the Perak MCA building in Ipoh.
The crowd of 200 also donated a total of RM3,265 for Kuantan’s SM Chung Hwa building fund.
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